I'll start by saying two things:
1) Offtopic - this topic will have long sentences due to my way to exprime in english (I would appreciate it if you had the patience to read all).
2) Ontopic - in every MMORPG I've played, resources plays an important role - to create new things;
I wasn't very involved in the collection of resources, but i can say, as a player that had to do with resources in other games, that what is happening now, does not work as it should work (IMO).
Why? I will give my reason and on that basis you will make connections by yourself, and tell if you tink the same or have different opinion.
Based on the games I've played i can say one thing: in both areas - collecting and processing of resources - must have the necessary experience to do it.
And a person who has knowledge for collecting certain resources can have the knowledge to process them, or not necessary. But if so, they are in close connection with each other.
And here are some examples of how should work the resources collecting and processing them.
About collecting:
i harvest herbs - so i have as profession: herbalism.
i cut trees - i am woodcutter
i collect memory stones, iron, ore etc - my profession is mining or whatever
i dig to find bones or other things - i have as profession: archeology
So if i harvest herbs, do you think i am good at digging or mining?
About processing:
using herbs and liquids i can create potions - i have as profession alchemy
i put spells into memory stones - so i am an enchanter...
So if i am a chef and i like to cook do you tink i am good at making alchemy or blacksmithing?
And there are more but if is needed and it is a good ideea, i can add all the professions that a person can have when is doing something.
The whole idea is that a person can't do all professions and is restricted to 2-3 professions, like 1 profession as collector, 1 profession as an processor of certain resources and 1 profession, which is more as hobby like fishing, riding, writing, etc.
This can be a better thing because people may be limited to certain profession and don't rush to get most resources they can.
Another thing i haven't seen it that you don't get fails when you try to collect resources... in my opinion, not every time i should try to pick up a herb i get it correctly or i can use it, or if i dig to find bones i don't find that bones everytime... I tink that is based on experience and to get experience are moments when you fail to get what you want... And when you fail to get something you get points to certain profession... till you become more experienced and get less fails.
Also i think heat should be used to be able to collect resources... like the requirements for using spells.
e.g. Who can work if he doesn't eat? - he needs energy to do that...
I know that the idea is hard to perform, but we have some basis, and in time can be improved, but at least this concept goes in a way, at least for me.