Crafting needs to be fun or needs to be automated.

[Wynn]

I suggested a system a long time ago that would fix the sitution completely.

Have your character pick a "job" for when you are logged off. During this time they would gain Exp and maybe even some money or basic mats. When you come back on you can use the skills learned in that job to make useful items.

Benefits

_grind

Offline leveling is a horrid idea that might look good at first due to saving operations costs but in the end may prove to be more detrimental when those offline players cancel their subs out of lack of interest and/or deciding to play another game that actually makes them log in to advance.