You might want to reread what I wrote, instead of taking it a step further with exaggeration.
You're assuming they are 'level 0' over their entire lifetime. The way I see it, the levels are simply a way to show how much experience he/she gains during the course of the game (and the game's storyline), not the character's ENTIRE life. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to start them off at a beginner's level (No XP, level 0, 1, whatever).