I would love to see game, where primary currency is actually useful even in the end game, but the closest thing tho this I saw in ARPG was torchlight 2, but only because all my characters play on the hardest difficulty and you lose 10% of your gold on each death. But I hope they will be able to do that.
But for your crafting idea, I think they have to be careful not make crafting too accessible and too flexible. If the best way, how to get strong items, will be crafting, LE will become gold farming game instead of loot hunting. But I am not against your idea.