Three comments about albion online
one of them adds to what you said about mercs:
1. I agree with moving laborers within same island buildings, not with trading them out of it, that would really mess things up. Still, you can have laborers in cities as well, so this would make that hard to achieve since you could trade them within a city already if moving between buildings was possible.
2. Crafters: actually I get my .4 resources from either crafter laborers or chests... not from gathering them myself. So they are still somewhat useful alone for this in intermediate tiers. I think it is somewhat unfair to gatherers. I would rather find them in the open world more often, and I don't mean in chests. People who focus on gathering are at the biggest disadvantage here. They get beaten in finding .4 by the crafter laborers and chest hunters, a bit weird.
3. My merc laborers are currently tier 6, I am filling t5 and t4 books only as of now for them, they return 150% both tiers due to good amount of trophies. Still I get more money back when I hand them t4 books, even though those are much easier to fill. As you said yourself, thats messed up.

Dec
This has the same effect as many games before Albion Online where traveling is simplified
It nullifies so many things Albion Online is suppose to have going for it. The world becomes so much smaller and territory so much more insignificant.

Oct
Simple Farming And Breeding Guide In Albion Online
While we love how you guys keep coming back to us here at AlbionMall.com to buy Albion Silver we also love to give some hints and tips about the game as well. Today we are taking things back to basics as we give the information you need to start farming and breeding.

Jan
Albion Online Mechanics
Though Albion Online is geared towards group PvPers, we want to dramatically diversify the player experience to cater to solo and PvE only players as well, to allow all kinds of players to enjoy Albion Online, whether they’re a veteran guildie, or a lone wolf.

Jan
Can you be a "jack of all trades?" on Albion Online
I am new to the game... been playing less than a week. Just so you have an idea of where I am at, I am starting to obtain T4 and T5 items.

Dec
Albion Online beta will last most likely through all of 2017
A guild is just so much more fun in this game and always has been. Gathering is definitely possible solo though and many do so including myself.

May
Albion Online Balancing issue
Bow rain of arrows was repeatable and did descent dmg, but wasn't the best in game. The issue that has been fixed and toned down was the bows mobility