If they made fished items have a purpose in game to the same level as botany and mining, then they wouldn't hesitate to implement some of the necessary QoL to make fishing a viable third gathering class instead of a forgotten side hobby. So it needs purpose as a gathering class.

They need to get rid of the cap on catch rate so if you vastly outlevel something, you get it. I've had Feast of Famine in my quest log for years (not days, not weeks, not months, years) because getting some of those fish is not about any sort of skill or preparation, it's about pure luck with RNG. Because you can do every single thing right and have that fish on your hook multiple times and it keeps getting away. So that needs to go. Especially if the window for something comes around every few real life weeks (or I think there's one that's even months) .

One of the commonalities I'm seeing in this thread from naysayers who don't want fishing improved is that they think it's fine being a broken RNG mess because that keeps more people away and they can feel special they put up with the tedium.

I was an omnicrafter on multiple characters before they did the revamps and streamlined things. They made improvements that helped both hardcore and casual crafters and gatherers. They made things much more accessible. None of that negates the work I put in under the old rules. And bringing fishing in line with the other gathering classes wouldn't negate any work someone previously put in. It's pure selfishness to not want something to improve because it would make you lose your special status.