So, this is a quasi-serious thread, not really about game mechanics per se, but about the philosophy of the game. I'm also going to indulge a bit of my "Lord of the Rings" nerdiness here, so please try and bear with me!

I was re-reading the Silmarillion recently, and the following thought struck me : should SE foster game mechanics that promote crafters like Melkor, or like Aulë?

Melkor:
And of these Melkor was the chief... But he desired rather to subdue to his will both Elves and Men, envying the gifts with which Ilúvatar promised to endow them ; and he wished himself to have subjects and servants, and to be called Lord, and to be a master over other wills. ... From splendour he fell through arrogance to contempt for all things save himself, a spirit wasteful and pitiless. Understanding he turned to subtlety in perverting to his own will all that he would use, until he become a liar without shame. He began with a desire of Light, but when he could not possess it for himself alone, he descended through fire and wrath into a great burning, down into Darkness.
Aulë:
Of the fabric of Earth had Aulë thought, to whom Ilúvatar had given skill and knowledge scarce less than Melkor ; but the delight and pride of Aulë is in the deed of making, and in the thing made, and neither in possession nor in his own mastery ; wherefore he gives and hoards not, and is free from care, passing ever on to some new work.
What I am getting at is thus: do we wish SE to encourage those crafters that craft in order to seek power and control over others, or to encourage those that craft because they take delight in the making?

I am one that strives to take delight in the making of items. I sell not to make gil, but because I cannot keep all thing that I make, and wish to see them used and enjoyed by others. However, the crafting 'game' does not seem to be encouraging me in this. Instead, it seems to be become more mechanistic, more rigid, more bland. This to me seems to encourage those that would use crafting as a tool to seek dominion over others (via market manipulation and control, etc).

Just a random rant, really ...