I used the legacy system as thats the only example i could think of that was remotely similar.
You do have alternative routes to increase you veteran rank as you've explain?
You do, you're correct but as I pointed out originally, if you don't have luck with grouping, or just don't appreciate that facet of MMO gaming, and you're not much of a PvP person the only thing left to do is grind mobs. Now I'm not saying that is a bad thing, but it can become a bad thing when the developers drop the XP of what could be someones only viable levelling path.
Developers should always be utilising more ways for people to experience their game, not trimming the ones that they currently have, but as I've said, I have faith in ZoS to have sorted this out before it becomes a big problem.
Newbie, I don't agree with you on crafting at all! Crafters will still be needed to create the best stuff in game, that is indisputable. If they want to monopolise trade then they'll be able to do so in the sub-50 category. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect people to want to forgo crafted wares when they're veterans for 'sweet loot' from dungeons/adventure zones (which then can only be upgraded to Legendary status via an appropriate crafter).
I think it's an elegant system that tries its best to let everyone have their moment in the sun. Crafters get everything up until end game (and still have to be used for the super epic stuff) and everything in between seems to be the realm of the dungeon explorers.
Personally, I don't care what stats or effects something has. One I get that Reach racial book, I'm not getting out of that stuff