So unless I'm mistaken one can pump Impregnation up to level 2, install a bevy of enhanced mutagens, then respec with the Operator and put no points into Impregnation.

The enhanced mutagens you've already installed won't change, and you'll have 2 more talents to put into other skills....'cause Impregnation is useless after you've mutated all the abilities in your chosen tree...

Is this true?

1) you need more than 2 talents because impregnation if further up the skill tree

2) you only reach the Operator really late in the game, so you'd be missing those talents (5 or so, I believe) for the majority of the game if you do that

3) but yea you can do that

I mean building up the alchemy tree as normal through the early chapters, including maxing impregnation.

By the time you get to the Operator, all your mutagen slots are filled with high level mutagens w/ an impregnation bonus. At that point you can respec and ignore Impregnation, putting its two talents into other skills. Since the mutagens that were previously equipped don't revert to weaker versions this means an alchemy build gets 2 extra talents just from respecing, since there's no point in wasting them re-purchasing Impregnation after you've already gotten the benefit...

I was just planning out the upgrade path through Chapter 3, and was mainly asking if mutagens keep the impregnation bonus even if your respec doesn't include Impregnation.