Why wasn't the game designed like this?

[Kraggy]

What would this accomplish? It would make all forms of content relevant, dungeons, raids, outdoor zones, crafting, gathering, and materia would be more useful, there would be more gear customization, more theorycrafting, a better economy and a much more enjoyable game(IMO). It would also be a complete unique experience like no other game using systems already in the game, just simply expanding them.

No, you over-exaggerate wildly.

What it will do is give crafters a stranglehold on gear progression and make everyone level a craft or be at the mercy of price-gouging crafters. I realise this is what you want but don't insult my intelligence by trying to make out this is some massive 'leveling the playingfield' idea.

great idea but casual ppl will start QQ ^^

Because it's 'hardcore' to level a craft now?

LMAO.