1) I have no way to respond to this without mentioning that the amount of the penalty is trivial at the first stage. The game is free to play and heavily discounted at retail prices. If you(r friends) don't even want to build yourself up 2 hours a week, I don't know what to say. Chat while crafting.
2) Don't look so much at fatigue not slowing down hardcore player. Look at how increased SP gains help casuals reach their levels faster.
This is the entire reason SE likely went with the more "market-friendly" name of Bonus or Surplus. My philosophy? Enjoy your free subscription and let them experiment with how to fix the system. Twelves know they have far too many suggestions in this vast ocean of posts.
I want to reqoute something I said a few pages back, for emphasis...
This game encourages diversity. The price of unwavering specialization is lack of options AND slower advancement. That's the way the CURRENT SYSTEM is. Until they change it you will have to continue to adapt to it for the next few months.
Not white knighting, or at least not trying to. The idea of fatigue first turned me off to playing but free subscription and seeing how overly exaggerated the flaws (albeit plentiful) were.
