I do like the proposed change for the nodes, running around in la noscea trying to find an active node is just painful at times.
I don't know if I want more in-depth actions though.

MP/TP as a restriction on gathering attempts wouldn't work too well imho and it would be too easy to bot with that method, too. Just stand on one point and gather untill no mp left -> sit down -> stand up and continue gathering.

Which means they would have to put more points (sparkling or not) into maps, which would be too many (performance-wise) in case of Botanists. They'd have to put a gathering node into each patch of grass....