Crafting Needs a Place in Endgame Raiding

[Zumi]

The ability to make gil isn't an issue. It's that crafting, gathering, and the markets have very little impact on high level content.

You said yourself that "There would be little motivation to do endgame content if you could just buy the best gear from the market boards." If you can see why this is the case, then you should also be able to see why many find little motivation to craft.

Crafting isn't the main point and focus of the game, its high level pve content gets the main focus. Like you can't just level a craft and use that to do the story quests.