As far as crafting goes.

I'd like to see crafting being made into sort of a mini-game (as was mentioned about). So when crafting an item, the quality or result of the item is dependant on ur proficiency in playing the mini game.

I'll start with an easy example, but one that doesn't quite apply to fantasy games to give you an example.

Imagine a sci-fi MMO where 'hacking' a network involved a tron like game (could be any of the usual tron classics) where the difficulty depended on the level of the item/network being hacked. As you became a more accomplished hacker, u could get bonus weapons, or powerups to make hacking low level networks/items easier, and making higher level hacking do-able. Its doesn't have to be a long mini-game, but more skilled players could progress faster due to skill, while given enough time everyone could still level up (get enough points at the low levels to get better hacking tools, ect...). There's a whole continuum of options from total skill based to only semi-skill based, semi-time based. You could have easter eggs open up new recipies or abilities (ie. hack a network in less than 1min, or hack a network without use of x ability, or what have you) opening up specializations or discoveries.

Another simple example would be lock picking in thief.

How would u apply it to a fantasy crafting system? Alchemy could be a klax type mini-game where incoming 'reagents' react with each other in a series of vials (obviously the UI would be different than the standard klax convayor belt setup, but the gameplay would be similar). Or perhaps a puzzle bobble type setup, where the play screen is a flask that u shoot reagents at bubble to 'reduce' them.

Blacksmithing could be closer to a game of whack-a-mole or the old school mario-paint game where u smacked flys. Or imagine it closer to a game of time crisis. You could use a button to heat the metal, then have to hammer out imperfection in a short amount of time. You only get 'x' hammers per 'reheat' (it would be similar to firing at enemies then reloading). Meaning u have to hammer fast and accurate. The final stats of the item could be a % of ur final score. Different recipies would correspond to different levels.

Or it could be like a para-rappa the rapper game (a rhythm game) with different hammers/tools/actions mapped to different buttons. As u learned a recipe a master blacksmith (ie. NPC) could hammer the item out and u'd have to repeat each sequence (heat, tap, tap, tap, heat, hammer, tap, hammer, ect...).

The possibilities are endless and people would go nuts at how much fun just crafting stuff is. And they don't have to be in-depth or complicated. Just play a game of mario party to get an idea of the plethora of mini-game ideas that are out there.

Bottom line is if there is no player interaction in the crafting process, its gonna be boring no matter how you cut it.

The point I was trying to make is that everybody that's a long-term player will have one anyway and thus, be self sufficient.

Look at Rose online.

Everybody over level 50 has an Alt. Dealer that they AFK all night.
It's pointlessly annoying.

Just throw in some crafting mini-games or something that will frustrate unskilled players and let the people with the time and the patience make a profit instead of the people with the deepest pockets to begin with.