I just...don't care anymore.

[Lastelli]

If I had to guess, the 180 sets will work through 3.1, yes. Then progression will "reset" in 3.2, and they'll need a new set of scrip gear to get the rarest stuff again. The same will likely be true for crafters. A fully-pentamelded i170 crafter will probably need fewer upgrades come 3.2 to get to the new (presumably) 3-star stuff. However, if they continue to gate materials the way they've done so far, being ahead on crafting, at the least, probably won't hold too much value.

I don't really think that will be the case. Maybe I'm just too optimistic, but I think that the reason why they designed such a complicated system to obtain the best gear for crafting and gathering is because they intend to make it last until the end of 3.x. This system can't be compared to how gear updates have been scheduled in ARR. Maybe in 3.4 they'll introduce a universal crafting/gathering set, but I really doubt that 170 and 180 gear will be replaced soon.

[Alahra]

but I really doubt that 170 and 180 gear will be replaced soon.

They *could* go that route, I suppose. The original crafter AF lasted almost all the way through ARR (and Artisan's was never necessary for 4-stars). If that's the case, we may see main hand/off-hand tool upgrades and possibly accessory upgrades over time, but the main gear will last far longer.

That will heavily devalue the DoHs that focus on making left-side gear, though, over time. They'll have to add new things for everyone to craft, and for WVR and LTW especially, that's normally going to be gear. Since DoW/DoM gear is no longer meaningful, the only place left for them would be DoH/DoL gear at present.