My issues so far:

1) Culinary, Whaaaaaatttthef- At least most of the other professions are making something that they're going to use and/or sell; something that lasts, something that can be soulbound and converted into materia. Culinarians are making a PIE that gets CONSUMED and lasts THIRTY MINUTES and goes away if you DIE. Culinary recipes either need to have their crystal requirements reduced (see #2 for an AWESOME way) or have their output increased by about 500%. If I spend 6 crystals on something, and its consumable, I better be making 6 of them. :P

2) Components. Components. Components. Making distilled water uses a shard? Butter? SALT?? WHY? I need magic to create butter? Really? What a sad state of affairs. If the recipe is to make a component thats solely used for something else (see: Flour, Gelatin, Pie Crusts, etc.) it shouldn't use a shard. Save the shard consumption for the actual final product, or we're getting taxed twice.