The reason quest maps are in a different trait is because quest maps allows for infinite quests, which when combined with heroic bonus allows nearly infinite prestige (growth) and influence. They wanted you to have to spend all 3 points in order to get those bonuses. Otherwise people would always take heroic and never bother with wanderlust.
As for the OP, if you think Heroic is worth only 1 point by itself, I'd have to respectfully disagree. Even without quest maps, you're talking about at least 5 prestige and 100 influence (nerfed rates, 200 unnerfed) just by running some quick quests near your starting location (and gaining double exp from them). That allows you to grow your cities faster, meaning you'll be getting more gold and research faster (city level gives a big bonus to those). With those bonuses you can then go on a conquest rampage. Heroic is a very powerful trait for the early build up. When I play altar, I don't even bother buying any Quest Maps at all (because they are a bit broken - hence the reason for their nerfs). Just because you don't have infinite quests, doesn't mean it isn't useful.
If anything, both traits needs to cost 2, and Altar needs a negative.