I'm not really worried when when you get to Arlene, just enjoy her way out there interactions! She had a small part in LD so expanding that role takes times - and you have people wanting X and Y and Z, and everyone wants their favorite parts updated first! We're an impatient bunch, but that happens when the game is so great!
I'm not really worried if you put the training-for-boosts in or not, just found it to be a good way to increase certain stats :)