I can see and understand that too. As DAOC is still my favorite MMO, I will use it's example that crafted epics were better than anything you would get in raids or PvP in that game for a long long long time (other than Artifact and Legendary items). Crafters of high level gear were treasured and sought after by guilds and were on high demand on the open market. And it would involve ALL crafters to get a full set of the best crafted raid level and high level PvP gear. As I said before I sympathize with crafters in those regards, but I do also understand the majority mindset that makers of MMOs now have to cater to. It really is a double edged sword.

People continue to misconstrue what so many crafters are trying to say. It's not about crafters not wanting to "work" for gear. It's not about crafters trying to become leet without dedication. Far from it. Most crafters I have known over the years of MMO playing are some of the most dedicated people and players you will meet. The issue (as far as I can tell by reading this thread and knowing many crafters) is the lack of a true crafting meta-game. SWG had it. Why not SWTOR? (just using this as an easy example) You could do nothing but craft in SWG if you chose. You never had to raid or anything if you never wanted to (at least you could before SOE ruined SWG). I had a friend who did nothing but craft droids and earn credits. That was his way of having fun and enjoying the game. I don't think he ever set foot in a raid. I am not a crafter myself... at least not hard-core, but I believe the bottom line is if all you want to do is immerse yourself into crafting and making cool items for your friends and for the market, then why shouldn't you be allowed to do that? Why should you be forced into raiding in order to get recipes and mats to make your items? That is the questions and arguments at play. A lot of people don't realize that prior to WoW there were a ton of games where you never even had to enter a dungeon if you never wanted to, especially if all you wanted to do was craft. I am loving SWTOR right now, but I can also see the crafters' side of things. They are paying the same amount as everyone else to play the game, so why should it boil down to raid or else?