Manipulation vs MMII

[StouterTaru]

You said you wouldn't have it as BSM due to cross class skills, what other 10 do you have?

I have no issues getting HQ mats at least 80% of the time from full NQ, that's where the mass production comes in. If you just make enough for one synth, you can get screwed over, but if you make extras you can use the NQ mats on other synths.

It's only 11 hasty touches, you forgot to add in the BB, and that's assuming you hit both RS, hence the 13 steps for 2xRS + HT.

[RiceisNice]

BSM for 3★: Manip, BB, SHII, CSII, RS, Inno, CZ, TotT, reclaim, HT.

4★, i swap out manip with PbP. I'm at enough craftsmanship that I can finish my 3★ crafts with 3 RS and 1 CSII. As far as BSM is concerned though, I only get to do high profile, non-material crafts for this (artisan tools) with a fairly diluted quality pool (cant remember but I think it was 600 for the offhand tools) that I'd want a contingency plan for it. If it was material crafting then I'd agree with you, and thats what I do; i'd delegate the NQ stuff toward furnishings or glamour crafting.

[giantslayer]

I usually look at manipulation in comparison with MM1, which costs 4 more CP. Saving 4 CP is nice and I wouldn't mind having it at my disposal, but on most classes my cross class slots have more important skills to fill.