I think the problem is you're simply mistaken in facts. The mages aren't there, and when they are, they are invisible. You can accept that fact or not, but it remains true. And again, even if not, no one has given a single reason why the change would somehow hurt, harm, abuse, or otherwise be bad. It's just adherence to what's always been done.

The fact is that there aren't mages in range for much of the time, and when there is one he or she is invisible. And like you said, yes, the applicant wouldn't know, isn't that the point? You keep saying get better, but that's the point, it's irrelevant whether you're good or bad, have enhanced damage or anything else - there's nobody there. That's the point.

This allows the applicant to actually use those skills to hunt if they want to level to 25. And they still need to do that hunting because you don't get in unless you get the kill.

So again, it's a change that should be made.