Quote Originally Posted by Uriahnool View Post
Unlike other low-level gathered items like copper ore that sell for 4-5 gil each, wind/fire shards have never come down in price. I am now forced to take extra time to invest in a gathering class to support my crafting class - except I am not gaining any exp by using the gathering class as shards are very low level items.
You are not forced, you may simply do as you wish. You may convert your goods crafted into gil, or materia, then use that income to fund buying more shards. You may also obtain them through a Free Company. I leveled Miner almost exactly in step with Goldsmith for this reason, and yes while it does take longer, it means you are less prey to spending resources to level a craft up. With the new changes to gathering classes, it will be faster to level up using gathering/leves to do so. I suggest taking this opportunity.