Alchemy was ok, not great. I imagine it will have a much larger impact in ARR.
I don't think this is breaking NDA, but if it is I'm sorry. But as part of the early questing around Gridania, you are given Potions to help with your soloing, as well as ethers, etc. In 1.0 this wasn't a viable means of sustain in fights, but they seem to emphasis consumable much more in ARR.
The best crafts, for money, were Clothcraft, Goldsmithing, and Armorer. Mainly, this was because these items were commonly used to either create the best materia, or socketted with double and triple melds, often resulting in blowing up everything, making them pretty consumable..
As a Bsm, I could only make gil by creating ingots for Armoring and selling them, as Most people would use Primal Weapons, or Grand Company Weapons. Though, the Relics come from Woodworking and Blacksmithing.
Cooking got the shortest stick though... early food in the game's life, food was useless so it never quite stuck as essential even after it was hugely buffed.
Woodworking did well with Arrows but since arrows are now infinite, that craft is in Limbo..
I made all my money with Mining. I heard Botany was pretty good though. But Mining was a license to print gil, and print I did. I leveled mining strictly for Hamlet, to work towards a relic, but I'm so happy I did.
Edited, May 1st 2013 11:42am by Louiscool