I like this suggestion and wrote something similar earlier today, I have quoted you so I hope you don't mind that.
2) would definitely also solve the disappointment of crafters who expected to be more important in expansion.
It is kinda win, win situation I guess. Ofcourse the gear would have to be kinda achievable and not cost 100M Gil in total (which you have already covered), but that depends only on SE's ability to balance it.
Also I am on my post limit again (just got one more post, no idea how), so I will hope this thread won't die out so soon. ^^
