Losing skills points if you die and de-level?

[Swish2]

You still have your original research points, you're just capped by your level.

I remember the patch where this was introduced, turned out my necro at the time had something like 115 in red rather than the 150 or whatever I'd trained him up to before it was rightly capped where it should be.

Side tip, keep your research book on you and do as much combining as you can while you level. A lot of people just vendor the words and will "do it later". If grouped, offer other classes words in exchange for anyone who loots words/runes you need.