I agree Aklarin, except for a couple things:

equipment still doesn't matter all that much
I'm in my mid 20's on GLA, and upgrading equipment made a huge difference. As a crafter, i switched from a weathered needle to a copper needle, and suddenly synths that I was having difficulty with became a breeze. Equipment DOES matter, even at low levels.

unique equipment (better than any equipment until about R45)
Materia. Materia materia materia. If you can't obtain the unique equipment right away, melding materia to your gear works just as well.

There IS demand for low-mid level gear. I restarted a character just for 1.19, and what I make is selling like hotcakes. I still don't have a craft passed 25 yet.



And again, about PLing. I'm ok with it so long as it's not abusive. I don't agree with the current exp rates, but such is the game as it is right now. I don't see the negative affects on crafting/demand that many people (myself included) had feared. Not yet anyway.