If anything, I think GATHERERS have it harder than Crafters. Crafters are going to look to getting the crystals for their gear first, gatherers are more of a "middle class" that have to overmeld to get an HQ chance for Folkore (though it seems on the crafting side HQ folklore isn't even extremely necessary)...I just find that weird.

(side note
3* crafts I'm thinking will require 1580 Craft 1460 CTRL. )