It is what it is... The simple truth

[Thebob89]

Only the vey top tier gear should be crafted. Having most gear being only obtainable through crafting will create monopolies and only players who have the gil could afford it

That would really just be a patch for the major issue here. See with the current set up once the end game players have that equipment why would they bother farming for more. If anything making equipment breakable would do far more for the demand of materials. Of course give the equipment duribility, make them reparable, but for each repare cut the total duribility by half. That would cause a constant need for new equipment which in turn causing the need for a flow of currency and materals. As it stands right now there isn't a need for currency to obtain or re obtain end game items in turn removing the need for crafters. The only profitable selling points at the moment are materials for craftng and the few items needed for trade craft leves(sp) which also proc my seconed point the target of economic repair. If the leve items were regulated more adamantly by players the increase in the flow of funds would only bost the economy even if just slightly and would be at the least a step in the right direction.