That would be pretty neat if sages and wizards got named sort of like how uniques are, so at all times there can only be one sage named "Wise Hermit of Doom" on a continent.
The item prestige bonus is more useful for higher prestige characters I think, as by that time prestige gains are fairly difficult. Items also sometimes give bonuses to skills, and can now be improved by adventurers to gain such secondary bonuses if they don't come naturally.
