On finding items, yes it gets a bit easier I suppose. Its all about finding an area where there is more than 1 regular mineral deposits coming up that you can also use to get experience, usually these are small mines. Also higher level mobs can drop jewels you need. And most anything can be found in the AH if you can pay for it.
As far as profit, like any other MMORPG, if you want the best way to gear up, its using the auction house, not crafting your own. I am level 35 with blacksmithing of 225 and mining around 233, and to get there it has actually cost me more than I made, plus the nicest items will always come from the auction house, not your forge, with a few minor exceptions.
Looking back, it has been really fun to raise blacksmithing, but no its in no way the most practicle way to gear up.
If its not fun to you for its own sake, you probably shouldnt follow up on it. Remember it cost you 5 gold a piece to get minging or blacksmithing above 225... and you still wont have any money making recipes yet.
Simply put, no you most likely wont wear or make money off of most things you make compared to just mining and selling the minerals, or just the loot that drops from monsters even and taking it to the AH.