Skill cap is 30 for FTP. You can keep playing and raise your stats however, and there are a lot of skill you could raise to 30 before needing to upgrade. The other thing you can't do is drop your own Tribe Totem down for a homestead.
I'm not sure I understand that last statement however if you are referring to experience bar gains then no, as a FTP account you cannot spend experience points to raise your skills. As a paid player you have an experience bar and once that bar fills up you get 10 points that you can spend in any skill up to 90 skill level, then you have to use that skill to raise it higher. I hope that was what you were asking
To be honest to you with all I read here and on the links I think I screwed the char I created a "bit" and should remake him, lol. Which isnt bad since I am at the start. You got any suggestions as to what stats/skills you would pick when creating a weapon crafter(if possible with ok combat ability too)?