How optional is Crafting?

[Erghiez]

Subject title is slightly ambiguous so I'll specify. Apologies in advance for the vagueness.

Lets assume I find my way to the end game. Is it viable to ignore crafting/gathering altogether and still maintain a respectable flow of incoming Gil and other relevant gear?

While I share many of the same issues and concerns that a large population of players have, I can be reasonable and overlook them. I enjoy the game as a whole and have no problem shelling out my time and cash to play it. But the crafting system...If I could roundhouse kick it into nothingness, I would. Its terribad. Every time I've tried it, I immediately look back to mornings where I woke up after a night of binge drinking, saw a random naked person in my bed stealing my blanket, and realized that those mornings weren't so bad afterall.

Apologies to those who do enjoy it. I personally can't get behind it, and want absolutely nothing to do with it.

(edit due to 1k char limit.)

Can/will crafting offer me an 'edge' so to speak for end game content? Will I be capable of producing highly (or even slightly) useful items that are otherwise unobtainable via 'trading' or using the Market for?