First and foremost Thank you for playing and taking the time to write this out!
You are spot on with 2 things here, The balance off the climb is too easy it's beer a reoccurring theme and it is the Taverns being overly generous that's the main problem, You mentioning the renown fix is exactly one of the changes I am going to make for the exact reason you have said,
Feedback like this is great because it shows I'm on the same path as the other people that are playing.
Penalties I agree with you, I've only just added Oaths into the game in the last few updates so your correct,
We need to get these guys a union ASAP,
The hit should be to the coffers and a morale hit to any friends that they have in the guild,
I want the world to always feel alive so actions should have consequences to make it feel so.
There is a discord where your more then welcome to join us and help us build onwards and upwards.