I have an idea that might help make crafting very important...it would satisfy the hardcore players, keep Gil sellers away while making Gil useful, and it would keep gear from dungeons still very useful for those that don't want to bother.

Adding materia slots to endgame gear is the solution. The highest level crafted gear can be worn to be spiritbound and it would give excellent materia. Crafters can sell their gear, but to offset Gil sellers, it would require more than Gil: players would have to pay in Gil and a special token gained from fates/levequests/guild nests, etc.

Thoughts?