Old issue is old…
+ Crafting is very good for leveling, although one levels (too) fast enough in this game (and you have to visit everything for your 100% anyway)
- Crafting is very expansive, because one doesn’t find enough mats during leveling, so mats must be bought in the TP (especially if you want to keep in “level-range” crafting-wise
- Crafting – even with guides and wise purchasing of intermediate steps – is a gold destroyer (due TP-prices)
- Not crafting at all, selling all mats and simply buy what you need from the TP is by far the better way right now
- The “real” gear is from Karma or dungeons (or is, with few exceptions, easier obtainable this way)
So, this list isn’t complete and some may argue. But the whole point is: Crafting is almost useless in this game (even more with ascended gear in a few day 
).
So why not giving the people a small compensation for the efforts?
F.e. +1 for each crafting-stage (limited to two professions).
This would be +10 to all stats at 400/400.
It’s nothing huge but at least a small “reward” for all the effort.
Don’t get me wrong: The crafting in GW2 is kinda nice (although a bit wearisome after the big “Oh, that’s how it works” moment). But it’s simply not rewarding.
Don’t tell me the Exp are a reward, because I prefer leveling due content.