Quote Originally Posted by QT_Melon View Post
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.
It's not the biggest reward of the game, but it's certainly the biggest reward of crafting. It's the reason that games include crafting and gathering as part of the game, so that those players who like the idea of making their own equipment and provisions get opportunities to do so.


Quote Originally Posted by QT_Melon View Post
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 MSQ provides gear because not everyone is interested in the crafting side of the game. Many players are never going to craft anything, yet they still need to be able to complete all the other content. Just because there's an alternative to crafting your gear for those who don't want to doesn't justify blocking those who do want to craft their equipment from doing so.