I played WoW a little for a couple years, but I was never hardcore into it. So I don't necessarily hate MMOs.
Crafting in MMOs (and to a lesser extent, in RPGs) is a way of keeping goals for people, hoops to jump through, a progression to make —- time to sink. In the end you have a potion, or a pair of magic pants or whatever. The process just doesn't interest me much. I'll do it if a game I really like requires it… but I think they "require" it largely because it's a trend, and it's a familiar thing for players to do. "Immersion!"
The "medecines" you refer to that were weeds crushed in a mortar and pestle with water were largely useless. I get that there's "magic" involved in an RPG, but the idea of being able to create five potions in a couple minutes — that can heal sword wounds — while in the middle of a dungeon filled with things trying to kill you is simply silly. It waters down the importance or power of magic too much. Hell, it takes more time to change a tire than it does to create potions. I see that you disagree with me and that's fine. The truth is that in the real world even the strongest man on earth would be crippled and likely die from even a medium sized sword wound, so it's all about stretching your belief. But whatever. The crowd who enjoy putting numbers into crafting "skill" will be picking flowers and making insta-heal potions out of their backpacks for many years to come.
I wonder if there is a bathroom mod out there somewhere?