Yeah, I do think crafting speed needs worked on. I wouldn't mind the quick syth with all it's current penalties if it didn't take so long, FOR NO REASON. If you're using quick syth then you're wanting to make a bunch of components ASAP so you can actually get to work on making whatever it is you're actually wanting to work on. The xp you gain is negliable and isn't even a consideration since for the same amount of time, you could've gotten 10-20x that amount of xp with 1 or 2 syths that you actually did some work on.

Seriously...just do it like GW2...every syth takes half the time of the previous one, until around 6+ it's happening almost instantly. All the quests encourage you to make HQ gear, which requires you to actually do it manually (and preferably using HQ mats starting from the lowest tier of the crafting process). Or just limit it to only massed produced stuff like thread, lumber, cloth, consumables, etc, not actual items.