hmm that would be cool to get new abilitys on certain levels

The manual didn't correlate with the in-game features and gameplay the day the game came out.   Now that a vast number of features have been tweaked, changed, ripped out entirely, or added, just about anything in it is best taken with a grain of salt, or not even read at all.

If i remember correctly, frogboy said they can add abilities to units through items, but they lack the needed programming to make the changes retroactive to units that have already been trained. They had to make a choice between altering the magic or adding retroactive changes to the game. They plan to do this in the future, probably after the magic is dealt with. I would assume this would be part of the package being prepared for tactical combat changes in 1.1

example of retroactive change just to be clear: in starcraft 2 you research tech to give your units more abilities. Units already out in the field gain these abilities. This example was probably not needed, but i wanted to be clear.

Edit: AND yes, i have been posting a lot lately pushing for these level up abilities, feats and skills for heroes to be put into the game - it will help a lot with making the factions feel different. (if they build it that way)

they have to decide if its worth three weeks or so recoding the section of the game, i say yes in the long  term it is necessary. (three week is probably a very inexact time frame, it is a number frogboy put forward in a post - not that i mean he isn't good on time frames, but that you never know what kinks will have to be worked out in the changes)

edit: it is quite possible i had a brain fart regarding the magic update, i'm tired at the moment and not sure if they meant the changes they already made, or the changes they will make in 1.1. Also there is the spell contest so i'm sure they are taking a hard look at it. I think they need to continue working on the balance issues. If they are having trouble nailing down how much hit point every unit should have and how hp scale through tyhe game then how can they balance spells yet ?