Why so sadist ? I thought you learned from HW :(

[QT_Melon]

It doesn't sound like the issue is about how to level, or about there being too much to do before being able to reach the new gathering nodes. It's about the pattern. It's about not being able to get item X until you've already passed the point where item X would have been useful to you. That's just bad design.

People (those who have any interest in gathering / crafting) should be able to first gather items, then use them to make gear, then do the content where they'd wear that gear.

MSQ gave you plenty of gear for leveling a battle class.
You didn't need to get new gear when you were leveling your crafting/gathering classes. You could do the while thing with HW high end gear like carbonweave/ironworks.

If you have to have already passed the content where you'd want the gear before you can gather/make it, then what's the point of ever making it at all? Sure, lots of players go back later to progress crafting and gathering just for the heck of it, but the biggest incentive and reward for doing so is already moot.

No, it's not the biggest reward. Crafting and gathering is always secondary to main scenario. It's been time and time again recommended you do the MSQ first before you decided to gather or craft. Given that MSQ rewards HQ gear items it was a way for not only players to level up quickly and be geared properly for dungeons it also prevented users from gouging others struggling to level. The initial rush from a majority of the players done, you now help other players trying to catch up which is why that gear exists, or you can use it as glamour since many complain about the lack of glamour options.