the changes are all awesome and needed (tho DE, just make colar the ''weapon'' for beasts or something similar ) but making then having their current max stats already will make the feel of leveling then empty. not much for people who can 0 to 30 easily, but for newer players.
I've seem some complains before , that amps have a really bad feeling while leveling because you don't get anything for it, companions will feel more like weapons now. maybe just making their signature skills level with their levels , and add a window that would allow to change the machine ones that we can mix (moa and hounds)