This idea came to me after loosing one of my favorite villagers before she could become an esteemed elder.

After being built can the huts 'age'. What I mean is maybe fall into need of repair so that you can still get building skill.

One of the villagers I started with was a runner and she mastered two of three skills. However, she never made it to a master builder as there was nothing left for her to build. I tried and tried tossing her at the hut to repair, but she just kept telling me that it was still in good shape. She died before I could get to the next level and get more items for building.