Well you could also make alter the drop rates and quantities of the items to reflect the changes.

I don't even care that much about the item drops myself, I'm more for fixing the ridiculously nerfed SP in comparison to the other 16 classes. I know some people who either won't do gathering or refuse to take it past a certain point just because it's an unbearable grind right now. Even if it was just better than it is now most people would be happy. The way it is now though is just like pulling teeth.