It's only a grind if you make it a grind. I got to 300 with no effort at all on my part because I didn't obsess over it. I've got all the gear I need for the content I play. Though mind you, dont really need gear for throwing ranked matches.
Because casting is limited by movement, while instant spamming can maximize every GCD by just mashing buttons.
Also, I need 15% alacrity just to compensate for animation delay after moving.
Significantly less profit. Significantly less streamlined then loading up 6 companions with crafting tasks. Significantly less chance of flooding the market with crafted items. Significantly less effective a replacement for using the gifts yourself.
Significantly less diminishing to the credit sink of leveling companions.