Giving players infinite materials to rank up crafting would destroy the economy, and that is what you are suggesting by making localleves infinite and everlasting.

In my opinion, they should alter the progression-system for crafting classes by giving crafters quests to help them level.

Also:

-They could imlpement more class quests that give SP
-They could implement player-run quests (players put in an order and crafters create)
-They could implement Player-Run companies and have crafters build component for ships/houses
-They could implement some kind of Beseiged feature and crafters could help fortify the barricades etc.

There's lots they could do to make progression less grindy.

There is a lot they could do to crafting besides just flat-out removing parts, oversimplifying recipes, and diminishing the crafting as a whole.

By the looks of things, crafting doesn't even have a future.