Making money with Culinarian, is it even possible?

[Koreos]

That's fine for lower leveling imo. If you're just looking to get the 3% boost in exp, then buying NPC food isn't that bad.

Where it makes sense to buy food in the 500-750 range and then the 2-3k range is when you hit LVL 45+. You're not concerned about that 3% exp as much since you're likely fate grinding and by the time you're 50, you want the stat boosts which are in the two digit numbers for lvl35+ food.

I don't see much point in using or making food which require anything better than a shard. It's not worth the cost at the moment if you look at today's market. But ya, maybe if I had a lvl 50 miner and lvl 50 botanist too, then I would be making money. But even then, I would just be selling materials/ingredients and not really food.

I agree with you. I just wish cooking felt more meaningful pre-50. Even right now though at 50 it isn't that great.