That orb does mean something, but not as much as it used to. I have noticed HUGE HQ% gains when it is "dark", but otherwise, you are right, it does not really matter. I have not really crafted much though, just enough to finish the quests (CRP Lv.50 1.0) and that was it.
Only thing I don't like, you can not quick synth dyes? What the hell is that? I gathered 100+ Grey Pigment, just to find out I could not Quick Synth it.