It doesn't exactly help the situation that S-E is ensuring there is nothing to do at low levels. For example, right off the bat, anything that continues to have a level cap is literally not worth doing. High-level players aren't interested in helping someone with, say, a level 40 BCNM, because they already know that it's nothing more than an experience in self eye-gouging.

And a lack of desire for buying low-level equipment would only explain that gear selling for low prices, not why said gear isn't being synthed outright. The aforementioned Leathercraft Guild Salesroom isn't awash with Rabbit Mantles that players can't even give away (and not just because someone in San d'Oria has no idea what Grass Thread is, even if they can get an NPC to randomly explain the Rabbit Mantle recipe to begin with). You can't help but not get EXP in this game, but critical, game-breaking secrets like "What's a sickle for?" are duly hidden from all but the most prying eyes, at least unless you just happen to be in a relevant area and just happen to target an inconspicuous and literally nondescript Harvesting Point.

Grounds Tomes at least show up on radar.