i agree that the DoLs need something to make it less monotonous. maybe, if you are in a group with a battle class you can unlock special mobs or NMs and the game gives you enough time to switch classes so you can fight too. fish up a sea monster, make a giant cactuar angry by trying to chop down a cactus, awaken a golom, etc. or maybe have a mini game before you start gathering that grants a bonus if you win. there are a lot of other ideas already out there.

As for the hiding ability; the first thing i learned as an engineer is that simplest solution may be the best. i know plenty of people who avoid certain DoL leves for the sole reason that the gathering points are surrounded or guarded by higher ranked aggressive mobs. you can't switch classes to kill them cause then you get less sp. So an ability that allows you to hide from them would make the most sense to me.

Personally i believe they should have made the DoL a secondary ability for the battle classes (think of shield). have two extra slots in the equipment area for gathering tools and then if something came to pick a fight you just put it away and draw your weapon. but we're not in XI so i guess that's out of the question?