I love getting runners! I just started a new game and got a runner right away who came on as a trainee builder! Boy, the first hut got put up fast along with everything else so far!

Sometimes likes/dislikes are important. I had one VV who liked medicine and became a Master Doctor very quickly. If a VV like rough wood it's a clue they might make a good builder, and the reverse is usually true.

Some who dislikes swimming won't be good as a farmer. They won't fish. Ditto for a VV who dislikes crab or fish.

A VV who dislikes work or likes resting is probably best suited to research or heal, not farm or build.

I agree though that some likes and dislikes really don't give one any help in determining what skill to train the villager in.