how I like to play : I exp all my gatherers and crafters, in order to enjoy the levelling and the MSQ with my own crafted gear.
Heavensward forced me to continue the MSQ before I was able to craft the corresponding gear, because everything was story-locked, including gathering areas.
I was hoping Stormblood would have made things better. Hell no ! It's worse.

This reached a summit of craziness when I had to gather logs in Yanxia. 4 of the 6 nodes are in an unreachable area without flying mount (34,14). FOUR ! I can gather 2, then I'm screwed !

And, even worse, the tools my blacksmith can forge at lvl 64 for crafters 65, requires materials that must be gathered on nodes 70, in an area I didn't even unlock !

I love this game, but I feel constantly restrained, like there is only one way to progress : exp a job, loot stuff in dungeon, finish msq, then you are allowed to do something else.
I don't understand the thinking process behind this kind of design. That's no fun