I started playing on Jan 1st, I'm a level 35 Botanist and Weaver, just so you know where I'm coming from. The concerns for bots seem very valid and SE should of course address them as needed. However, I agree that making farming easier/more enjoyable would encourage more players to do it themselves instead of purchasing. I currently haven't purchased any shards but with each thread I pull as a Weaver costing 4-5 shards a piece, I have been very tempted to go to the market. Even if I'm fully capable as my Botanist, I don't want to slowly farm shards for 4 hours, when those same shards will be gone in a half hour of Weaving.

At the end of the day, I want to enjoy my Botanist. I don't mind that shards give little experience, it should not be such a pain in the butt for me to go gather them. Lower DoH shard costs, increase shard yields, lower GP Ward costs, however you want to do it, but don't make me dread going to farm for shards.