Skills not leveling up - ECO LIFESTYLE IS BROKEN

After installing the Eco Lifestyle I had this issue, so I:

- performed a a clean uninstall

- restarted my PC

- reinstalled everything I own

- using zero mods or CC

- started a new game

My sim won't level up Cooking by watching the TV or reading a book. He has to be actually cooking. Programming is a no-go period.

My wife's sim (also a new game) also has the same issue, but she also tried raising her Athletics.

I used the disablepacks:EP09 for the startup command and it resolved the issue. This expansion is utterly broken at the moment.