If you're concerned with what people think of you playing any game, you probably care way too much what people think of you and I think we all know that's not true. I tell people all the time that I play FFXIV when it comes up and then correct the common misconceptions most gamers have about it.
I prefer a more engaging system for crafting than "Click start, walk away, done pass/fail."
I would be okay with them changing it, as long as it had some kind of mini-game. I'd prefer they took the time to make a fun mini-game for the crafting system as opposed to just being lazy and removing it all together.
You've clearly never worked on a television before lol. For your sake I certainly hope you never do
