Originally Posted by
Asiaine
I would not say they lack anyone competent in economics. I spend a fair bit of time examining what the NPCs buy and sell, and at what rates. There is a definiate logic behind those settings. SE is doing a lot of work (and succeeding well) in controlling the prices of craftable items for gear below level 40.
This is making it very simple for people to level up crafts to 40.
This is making it very affordable for people to buy equipment up to level 40.
The relaxation on upper tier goods costs is allowing a more dominant free market for those items (also influenced by the presence of non-craftable items).
There is a lot of work and tweaking being done, and they are doing a good job at it.
(If you do not believe they are doing a good job, think of this: How many people have 10s or 100s of millions of Gil. Now think of how the price of most materials has hardly budged over the last 6 months. The biggest 'movement' is in Dungeon Drops and Materia (especially Int materia when Garuda was in 'easy' mode)).