Skill Synergies: Are They Reliable or Not?

[Rudolph]

I am asking the topic question specifically with regard to the Spellcraft/UMD synergy. I have asked a related question before and avoided allocating the relevant skillpoints until this point cleared up, but so far it hasn't, and the moment has come where I need to choose.

So, my more specific question is:
Do 10 Spellcraft points count like +2 UMD in wand and cross-class-or-race item use or don't they? IG, things still seem somewhat unstable, but if I knew the synergies are being made solid in the foreseeable future, I could commit to a skill point allocation.

[Tsidkenu]

Spellcraft 5 (base ranks) = +2 UMD (assuming you have a minimum 1 spent rank in UMD)
UMD 5 (base ranks) = +2 Spellcraft (as above)

Further ranks do not improve the synergy bonuses, it is +2 only.

[Valefort]

Yes only the first ranks.

[Theodore01]

So the engine itself will unequip these UMD restricted items. Go for base 13, don't rely on skill synergies.

Yeah, its pretty annoying loging in halfnaked