Lorglath, I absolutely agree with you.

Snugglebutt, when you've made it to 60 on a couple classes and actually tried this stuff, start talking. Until then, you have no idea. I've watched half my free company try it -- and every single one of them went from "it's a grind, it's fine" to "this system sucks".

As for specialists getting unique recipes, that will be the kiss of death. Specialists are broken. They're an awful system. They don't improve things as is, and now you want to double down on it?

No, SE isn't going to scrap it. So we're already going on to the 2nd best solution, or 3rd best, or no solution at all. Realistically, I'm expecting no solution at all. If I'm proven wrong, it's great, but I doubt it will happen.

As for crafting BIS ... honestly? I don't see a problem with it. I'd rather see a robust economy with multiple ways to get an excellent gear set then have only one path. I think that would make the game richer, more fluid, and less exclusionary. In short, BETTER.