Simplification of recipes not cool.

[Winterclaw]

Also, the entire crafting "mini-game" is not fun.

This pretty much sums up my feelings for the current system. Simplifications welcome.

However I agree that if recipes for Haubs are dumbed down to "5 nuggets, 2 ingots, 2 cotton cloth bolts." well shit, son. If I wanted to play with blocks I'd go back to pre-school.
The complexity that's there, or might still be there in the future, isn't meant to make you want to hang yourself. It's also a nice way to subtly limit the amount of certain items in the market wards.

That's how EVE's crafting system works for all T1 stuff. I think it works pretty fine. In fact I'd like something like that if only to save on inventory/retainer space.

I sympathize with you OP. I liked the realism; it was very educational.

Realism is one thing, fun is another. Some of us would prefer the latter. Here's the thing, this is a game, not a classroom on the fine art of tailoring shirts meant to be used as a base for a chain mail armor and whether you want it with ruffles or not.

Gameplay really has to come first and the current gameplay for crafting is pretty bad.