An interesting way to fix this IMO would be to put more emphasis on vendors. Not saying have every vendor sell every material for cheap, but to have guild vendors carry a larger stock of items for a cheaper price, and perhaps even more standard vendors just around for easier acquisition of the more simple stuff. Like I know basic ingredients are available for some crafts (cooking most notably), but some of the other crafts will have a harder time being picked up by new crafters such as Goldsmithing or even Bonecrafting.

On a side note: I think this would also be a decent way to help new players get into the game easier. Due to the lack of crafters selling low level items and armor, having a few more amor/weapon vendors around might be useful. Could make the crazier armor (scorpion harness, Luisiant stuff, etc) being sold by Tenshodo or Tavnazian vendors at a reasonable price (44k-50k doesn't seem so reasonable nowadays for a lvl 40 breastplate, especially for someone up and coming)