With the way the game works, I don't think crafting would really be a benefit. [...] We already get loads and loads of gear provided to us just through exploration and as loot.
One could make the point that some of the gear you can loot incentivizes creating builds around them (regardless if preplanned or by respeccing). For example, increasing dexterity instead of picking War Caster Feat, because you know you'll get advantage on constitution saving throws from a certain armor piece soon.
Given crafting would be much more flexible than picking from loot, I'd prefer crafting gear tailored to a specific build over building a character with specific gear in mind that you know you can loot later on in the game.
Of course legendary items should always exceed anything that can be crafted.
Crafting should be done as a story/world element not in inventory. Like in BG2. Go to a crafter/weaponsmith to upgrade stuff for example. Works so much better within the game world.
Agree, better Dammon does the crafting in exchange for gold and special material.
