For this game having been in development for so long there are some really "dumb" things I keep stumbling on. I too, can make beautiful BOP heavy armor gloves for my clothie healer.....I guess they assume I can make them for my companion (the whole companion idea is actually quite stupid), but to be honest, I hope that this game has more to offer me at max level then running around doing 2-4 man dungeons with my stupid minions.

I totally agree with this. I also would like to point out that there is a certain pride I have for seeing my name on my gear in the character sheet. It shows I worked to develop something. So many people try to race through the game to get to 50 asap, and thats okay, for me though, I enjoy taking my time, leveling professions, getting titles, collecting datacrons etc. Learning a skill/profession is not always just about getting the best gear asap.

Slicing is fine the way it is now, post nerf. I've noticed that there seem to be more nodes and tons of money to be made from harvesting nodes in the game world. Whats the fun in sending your companion on a tons of missions to get a gezillion credits.....I made 70k credits in one day...you tell me that that isnt broken. I think BW did a good job nerfing it.