Low level market seems to be dead

[Quesse]

Not trying to be funny or anything...but it was designed this way...So that crafting doesnt play a major role in the game.
If you read any of the live letters you will see what i mean, its really sad but its all we have.

I'll second this.

Originally Tanaka had a pretty grand vision for crafting, albeit a poorly implemented one. Its one of the things that initially drew me to FFXIV -- crafters having their own classes on par with their DoW/M counterparts. Yoshi tricked me with 1.0 in that the introduction of materia and some of the other changes made it seem like crafting was going to always be an integral part of the game. Oh how wrong I was >.< 2.0 turned crafting into a sideshow and Yoshi has repeatedly said there are no plans to make it otherwise. Too bad - we finally get a pretty decent crafting system and it goes to waste.

[statikcat]

crafters having their own classes on par with their DoW/M counterparts.

How are they on par? I mean they have specific skills and levels but in reality it is just like any other MMO except you can put them all on one character. Leveling up botony is not much different from potions or something in another game. Level 20 could be skill 150 in another game all the same. Square giving crafting levels I think gives higher expectations than expected on what their end game role should be. Crafting is always to support. Now, I do think it should help support end game WAY better but not by crafting lv90 gear. More useful potions.. or one use type items across the board would be awesome. Or maybe awesome armor you can't repair that can help you get through a learning curve with a FC. Crafting drops in dungeons is also a must.. these can be craft to unique high lv gear. I mean these are just ideas off the top of my head. Also, hopefully vanity will help crafting economy some.