I've heard a number of people say that the crafting in LOTRO leaves a bit to be desired. I think it's okay but that it could be a lot more immersive and as just one of the ideas that could help achieve such an upgrade.

tools for crafting should be linked to your crafting tier, not your overall skill level

So, for example, I should be able to use the best tools for crafting (ancient steel etc) when I reach Master (tier 5) or perhaps Grand Master... regardless of what level my toon is at. I could be level 47 or I could be level 10 - it wouldn't matter. After all, those levels are about my combat ability - not how well I can craft.

Doing so would enable players to create pure crafting toons, committed to providing goods for Middle Earth. As things stand right now, we have a half-way house. Yes you can be a crafter, but you have to go out and kill stuff and level up and engage in a grind that you may not want to do first and, as I've already said, what should my combat level have to do with how well I can craft anyway.

I'd rather that my tailors were handy with a needle and thread rather than a bow, axe or sword.

I think there's much to wish for in regards to crafting in LOTRO, but as it turns out Turbine have several things in store for us - whether or not they will be implemented is another story.

What is it exactly you wish to accomplish with this change? If we keep the obvious economical perspective of actively promoting players only to get one character to maximum level out of the picture, you would have everyone spitting out level 4 Hunter and level 7 Captain alts with access to the same stuff as the bloke that worked hard to progress through the game. I get your idea that experience in combat shouldn't affect your skills with a needle, but effort should still match reward, and if what you suggest is implemented there's no incentive whatsoever for putting effort into developing your character as far as I'm concerned.

I'm not sure how big a group of players are annoyed by the demand to level your character to improve your profession (it seems to be a cornerstone of MMO's), but a way to accommodate these select people could be to introduce Bind on Acquire crafting reagents that were available in zones of all levels. Not only would it enable you to learn using a needle without having to level up, but it would also remove some of the intense alt crafting we currently have. Many players have mastered all professions on their account and find themselves completely independent which, to me, is very much against the concept of any MMO.