Why so sadist ? I thought you learned from HW :(

[uvuvwevwevweonyetenyevweugwemu]

People (those who have any interest in gathering / crafting) should be able to first gather items, then use them to make gear, then do the content where they'd wear that gear. If you have to have already passed the content where you'd want the gear before you can gather/make it, then what's the point of ever making it at all?

Both ways have their flaws. If we have crafter/gatherer level first then no point taking quest rewards or doing dungeons because their loot is only useful for alt jobs.
Same thing with having battle job leveled first, crafter/gatherer only purpose would be making i320s for multi jobs.
Leveling same time implies that you need battle job first because it counts as a hunting gatherer for hides, skins, oils.

For the story gate, this applies to most jobs, not just crafter/gatherer. You can't finish job quests, update npc white gears and obtain level 70 skill unless you can go there.
It's simple, how would WoL or PC know about people or a place they've never visit before. That's the game.