The gather rate for shards is fine for nodes below level 30, because crafts at or below level 30 don't really use many shards. But after 30 crafting is when the shard consumption just goes insane. Every level 30 node should give you 2 shards per swing at that point, and at 50 you should be getting 3-4 per swing. It's insane when I have 0 GP, and it takes four gathering nodes to get the shards to make ONE item. One item, when it takes HUNDREDS of items to level up. Yes, it is nice when you can use the ability to get more shards, on a +1 yield or attempt node, but when you can only use that ability once every 10 minutes, it is nearly worthless.