Quote Originally Posted by rog View Post
Sure, but that condition applies to everyone in 2011.
No, it applies to everyone who can make more money doing something else. A relatively new player starting in smithing isn't going to have a way to make the gil to buy the ores.

The guide, which is a resource for new players, gives the false impression that it is never a good idea to mine and fails to take into account that most people are following the guide to level their smithing skill. In fact, it is those very people that need to mine... to acquire the materials... to acquire the skill-ups.

Anyone with two brain cells to rub together can figure out the most gil-efficient use of their time, and sometimes that means mining.