Methinks it's connected to gold sellers and them taking over the crystal market (buy low sell high no one can mine crystals in time). Notice retainers can mine crystals for you? You don't have to buy crystals on the market board (gil goes to gold sellers) anymore or be forced to botany/mine all day long. Between leves and your two retainers there will be enough crystals for you to craft. Don't go persecuting the crystal market sellers because of my speculations they might be legit players.