I totally agree. In all else I have played, crafting/gathering feels more like a chore than fun. In FFXIV:ARR, I actually love doing it. Mining gets a bit tedious at times, but it still shakes up the action by throwing you into areas with agro mobs, so it's a challenge to not be seen. I really like the crafting minigame too. There are awesome moments (hitting an Excellent with Great Strides active!!) and there are gut-wrenching moments as well (seeing an Excellent pop up after using your last bit of CP!!). And not to mention I have been able to outfit my FC with all of their jewelry throughout the lvls gives me a sense of helping out others on top of the fun.

I am a level 40 Goldsmith/32 Leatherworker/27 Alchemist/35 Miner and I can't get enough of it. My goldsmith is catching up to my bards level! But making HQ jewelry for my friends is awesome!! We all vchat while we are playing, and when I surprised them all with mails full of HQ sets of lvl 38-39 jewelry for their Mains, listening to their reactions in real time was amazing.

Ooooh, your a weaver? How's your lightning shard reserve? LOL!! I know a good way to get a ton of all the shards early in the game if your interested. Will keep you from having to mine them for awhile anyway.