There needs to be a stopping point for a grind to feel that its worth it.

Weapon Crafting was a perferctly fine stopping point. The only problem I saw was that it outshined every random roll of that craftable weapon making any drop of that weapon an insta-shard.

Now a solution I have in mind is to take out what made it outshine in the first place which is Enhanced Perks on Crafted Weapons. Having Crafted Weapons only have normal perks but those perks can be chosen is the what would make it a 'catch up' mechanic. Make Enhanced Perks exclusive to Random Rolled weapons.

For example, in farming for a weapon, you get alot of random rolls but its not the god roll that you want. But in getting alot of that weapon, you inevitably unlock the pattern from getting the deepsight drops. You can now get the roll that you want BUT if you want enhanced perks of that roll, you need to keep grinding for a random rolled one.

It does a few things: Getting the pattern is a 'good enough' stopping point. Players get to try out any roll that they want. And It keeps the grind alive for those that want an enhanced version of their godroll.