Oh , I fully agree the "minigame" for crafting needs to be adjusted at best......I do not agree with your example method at all for it though. I actually wouldn't mind if it stayed the same over all with the abilities having more evident benefit and the XP per synth quadrupleing.

It can be mind numbing, or it can be slow.
BUT
Right now it is both hridiculously mind numbing and ridiculously slow.