An option for combat classes to focus on their gathering (leather, web, fleece etc) would go a long way.

Even it it's just jewelry, items with stats that increase drop-rates would be excellent. As an example, +5% NQ drop rate, or +2% HW drop rate.

To balance it out and keep it interesting, these increases could have combat stat penalities alongside them. So increasing drop-rate might have a corresponding decrease in DET or VIT, and increasing HQ rate lowers your Skill/Spell Speed by a scaled percentage.

That way, focusing on gathering drops at certain levels isn't completely trivial. You'd have to level past the mobs you are targeting in order to effectively boost your gathering. This does away with the need for a "hunter" class to some extent.

Even if my choice of mechanics for the example doesn't quite work out, I think there's something to the idea of allowing people to gear for drops. It also gives combat-oriented players an easier entry point to the economy.