So how about a new gathering class?

[LineageRazor]

How would you propose giving them items to collect that fit into old recipes? That seems like a large logistical hurdle.

Assuming this question is in reponse to the Archeologist suggestion, in addition to artifacts, bones are something an Archeologist could certainly find which would fit into a number of existing recipes. Additionally, Archeologist could find things like Aged Spear Shafts, or other aged items used to create Zodiac weapon quest items; currently these aged items are only available through desynthesis, but as relic quest difficulty gets nerfed as time goes by making these items available through other means certainly isn't out of the question.

There are doubtless other ingredients that one could finagle into Archeologist that aren't immediately apparent. After all, Botanist has a few oddball harvests (like frogs and scorpions), and so does miner (Adamantoise shells and ogre horns). There's probably a few other existing items that you could think up some excuse for Archeologists to find. Tallow Candles? Tiny Crowns?