Square Enix, please think about both Casual AND Hardcore crafters..

[Nixxe]

But here is the kicker:
You DON'T have to invest absurd amounts of time anymore.
That's a good thing because a) there is a Real Life that is much more deserving of your energy than a video game b) there are other games out there that are fun too.
Cutting down on mindless grind and RNG is a win-win scenario for all involved, including the hardcores, making room for other hobbies in the process.

You're literally arguing that it's a good thing because it gives you less of a reason to play this game. You are the last person anyone in SE should cater to. Stop trying to take the game away from people who enjoy it, to say nothing of insisting you're doing us a favor in doing so.

Crafting never required absurd amounts of time anyway. This game has always been extremely casual friendly in the amounts of time it asks of players to accomplish things. Reducing that further means you may as well just stop logging in entirely.