My fishing credentials are actually on my fisher alt: http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodest...acter/1417349/

Every pre heavansward fish. Someday I will get her into 3.0.

I have miner and botanist 60.

1, No, just no. I do not want fishing to be any more intense than it currently is. Intense is furrymint and clary sage.

2, I consider a feature rather than a bug. In XI they had the subaki (sp?) rig that could catch 3 fish at once, I wouldn't mind something like that here.

3, Yes too RNG based but my viewpoint is different than yours.
Weather is a minor thing.
Weather > weather is for very few fish. So few that it hardly concerns me.
Bait. I wouldn't mind if more bait could isolate more fish. I like your log idea but I don't think it will be implemented.
Mooching is OK so far. Mooch > mooch? I try for the frilled shark for funsies and gil. And the challenge.
Not 100%? Wait, the 100% catch rate is unrealistic and I think its why we can't isolate more fish through bait. Having big fish escape is part of the challenge.

And you CAN catch them all. It takes time and patience. Not the skill, but RL patience.

4, Total agreement.

5, You touch on subjects that we have been told are off the table. As to the usefulness of fish, see fishbots. We have gatherbots available. Turn off your addblocker and visit any FFXIV related site.

Your suggestions:
A) No. Same as 1, above.
B) Wouldn't mind, don't expect to ever see.
C) Bobber is an interesting idea but call it fish oil or something.
D) Yes on the TP costs, don't really see what you are getting at with the rest.
E) Tacklebox we have been told isn't happening. If they give us a quick desynth it will come with a nerf like quick synth. Implement something like Belly of the Beast from XI.
F) Bait on chocobo yes, desynth on chocobo? I can't see that happening.