Someone doesn't read the updates to crafting for Book 8.

Crafting is going to get a chance to make Legendary and Radiance gear. Just like before where crafted gear was on par with some of the best boss drops...it will happen again.

Also, crafting guilds were added to help improve the usefulness of crafting and it has. Ask anyone on the Lotro forums about crafting and they will say it works. Might not be the greatest thing ever, but it sure beats the WoW system you so prefer where the best crafting recipes come from raids...where you are getting drops anyways and the crafted gear doesn't even come close.