3.5 magic item and crafting woes, discussion

[eftexar]

So I've come to the conclusion that the crafting system as is is completely broken, especially when we get to the topic of magic items. My biggest problems are:

Crafting takes too long and is less efficient than just buying stuff (or casting a single spell). Why would I want to spend my precious xp to get a suboptimal option or just go to the local magic shop.
The best items are exclusive to being crafted by magic users. Not only that, but why can't we give limited access to magic stuff to non-casters? Why not let everyone use scrolls for example?
Why do alchemical items require magic knowledge. Even if non-magical alchemy didn't work in our history, this is a fantasy setting and the two have almost nothing to do with each other (alchemy was pseudo-science not magic).
Magic items cost XP. Did I say that already. Well it really annoys me.

So I want to know what people think are problems (or aren't) and what could be done to fix the crafting system? Even if you don't think it needs fixed, how would you imagine a different crafting system being?

[bobthe6th]

frank and K cover this rather well.


alchemy rules are just stupid, sorry, but they are.