Ok, it seems you cleaned up your original thread. I completely agree with your second option. On the first one, however, I don't agree. While there is some randomness involved in DoL gathering (I, too, have only tried BTN, I'm 32 as of this moment), It's really not that random. For example, I've noticed Grade 4 trees in La Noscea (by Cedarwood) can be chopped by purely remaining in the top half of the wedge. In sharp contrast, Humblehearth Grade 4 trees, in the Black Shroud, have to be chopped in the lower half of the wedge. It's all a matter of getting used to them and finding those sweet spots, which in itself was rewarding to learn.

I would not be mad if the animations were faster, but I really don't want to take them out. I actually have fun while leveling crafting/gathering jobs. Part of the fun is seeing that they haven't streamlined the process. However, I'm sure you'll be glad to know that Yoshida has already said on record that in the future he wants to make crafting two ways: 1) Just streamline the process and get it done and 2) be able to do the same as we do now and have better control over HQ probabilities.

So there. Two of your worries addressed.

Quote Originally Posted by Nakiamiie View Post
They are constantly moving the monsters around to try to prevent such issues. Don't you have another route to that levequest? Are you sure they are aggressive? If yes, maybe you could also post more infos about that particular leve that has its path blocked (map name, coordinates, monsters in the way, leve name, etc.)?
There's a levequest in camp Humblehearth that leads me right to a pack of ravenous wolves. The destination is right in the middle of them, there's no question about routes. Also, a Lv.30 Company Leve in The Mun-Tuy Cellars has its objective right between a powerful flowertrap and 2 poachers. the leve itself was easy, it was trying to control those mobs at the same time that killed me. A lot.