Overall, I think crafting is fine.
HOWEVER, OP does have a bit of a point when it comes to expansion changes, particularly for newer players.
I think we forget that most of us went through the 2*/3*/4* progression before a new expansion came out, and it can be difficult for a newer player to go from lv49 crafting/gathering to basically the equivalent of 50 3* to get to lv51+, or to go from lv59 crafting/gathering to basically the equivalent of lv60 3* to get to lv61+. A way to streamline that, particularly at the end of older expansions...wouldn't be a bad idea. (One way this could be done quite easily might be to make the current lv51/lv61 crafting/gathering gear lv50/60 instead, for example.)
As for getting rid of the rotations and skills and minigame, however, OP is way off base and can go play WoW if that's what he wants.