By the time I get to Anephas' shrine, I'm not really worried about levels, frankly. They tend to get in the way of game play
They're much more important early on when your absolute level is less than ten. Later, when your virtual level is 10 and your absolute level is in the 60s, few things bother you.
By virtual level, I mean the level that you're at in the class you are right now. Absolute level is the total number of levels you've achieved. If you spent ten levels as a warrior, paladin, ranger, ninja, and samurai, and you're currently a tenth level warlock, your virtual level is ten while your absolute level is 60.
Not exactly a scientific measurement of prowess (hey! that's a skill!), but it does account for how things get easier along the way when you're "only" level one in a new class.