Thanks Bluie...
I was also thinking that perhaps they should put "fuel" items in of various qualities.
For example,
A generic candle could be replaced with a crafted candle.
Something that reduces the quality hit on a combine. Not an increase but maybe a 5pt counter to a loss.
I am not suggesting using these candles all the time, but just when you're working on hard recipes. Make them "No Trade" and the recipe questable... one for each type of fuel. If the cost is too high people won't do the combine but some will just for the quest xp and others will for the crafting xp.
Anyone else think this might make a better crafting session?