Also, it looks like two of my characters got the Tormentor trait (which is a good trait) but there was no notification. Normally I get a notification when someone gets a new trait. So I wonder if the notifications somehow got turned off (though that still doesn't explain the missing aptitude point).

Traits dont give Points, so it seems you have some wrong assumptions to begin with.
Titel gives a Point. and for Titels you get an instant notification too.
why you get no notification for new Traits, no idea. sure they dont got that traits when you hired them?
or you got them from a camp event and dont looked what you got.

I know traits don't give points. But they come with a notification which I didn't see (or maybe I missed). I was just wondering if the lack of notification of traits might be related to the lack of notification of title (and the lack of aptitude gain with the title).

And no it was the Tormentor trait for two of my starting characters (it was their 5th or 6th trait).

However, later I did get the Duellist trait on someone else and did see a notification there.