While i dislike this approach to crafting alot, you can also view it in another way:

Now while everything is gated you can just do your weekly craft and then spend your time doing everything else.
Crafting didnt get suddenly more time consuming, it just takes more time to gear up. It gives casual crafters a chance to catch up since everyone can only progress so much (except you find someone to sell you the scrip mats and/or have the money to buy them)

So after i said that, SE plz change =D Dont want to gear up all my crafting classes just for you to end up implementing universal crafting equipment in 2 or 3 patches