For me as a non-hardocre player the current crafting system WITH all the steps in between was the reason to start really looking into FFXIV again. I really like how you need to put your robe together form sleves, back, front etc... and it made the crafting way more interesting than in other games where you just hit enter and wait for the result.

For many of those who really enjoy the crafting in FFXIV (and I do not talk about them grinders, who just skill a job to have it at 50 and then never use it again), it will take away a good part from the game, and yet again make it "replaceable" by one of the other dozens MMOs out there.

The coloring and the levels for the crafts need a change, I totally agree on that. But removing sub-skills (they also existed in FFXI) and the component crafting will take away another good piece of the game.