No it doesn't. CRPG's are about quests, talking with people, making choices, seeing neat places, and meeting interesting characters. When skills are used to effect those ends, then its a useful skill. When a skill just exists to govern a self-contained minigame, then its a waste of time.
Now, obviously, if someone belives that item repair is an important part of the crpg experience then they are going to want a repair skill. I don't happen to believe that. Obviously.