While there's many ways to gather crystals "thematically" I feel that Ephemeral Nodes should increase the "Base Crystals" count. Here's my reasoning

These nodes are specific for aetherial reduction. With Aetherial reduction you are spending GP to get 3 tiers of rewards, low-mid-high. With low being 1-3 cluster AND crystal, Med being 5-9 clusters AND Crystal AND maybe a synth item and high being high chance of synth item AND cluster and Crystals.

However, if I want specific gathering items any node that offer Cluster, Crystal or small ones. I have to use the "crystal abilities" to gather a few at a time and it has a long recast.

Yes, Yes the economy, buy crystals,etc. I'm a hoarder. I do for myself, even if it wastes my time.

I want to be able to gather crystals enough to be able to synth the items I ALREADY wasted time gathering. its like double, triple or quadrupal gathering. Even if it drops the price of crystals, theres still money for the crystal gatherers cause they ALSO will be able to gather faster. I'd even argue lower pricies might make people like me buy off the market board more readily.