I agree that alloying without mineral loss is a definate problem, but is it
really necessary to completely destroy the multiple material alloy?

Why is it so wrong for 'crafty' merchants to have an advantage over
get-rich-quick reincbies?

I figured out for myself how the alloy system worked, and I thought it was one
of the neater aspects of the guild. Certainly a more enjoyable use of time
than trudging through the wilderness hitting the mining key hour after hour
after hour after hour.

Again, I am not saying that there was not a problem with the way alloying was
before, but can't there be a middle ground between too-good and worthless? Why
not try to make alloy-only materials harder or trickier instead of pointless?

There are far too many great skills in this guild that are pointless these
days, in my opinion, without adding more on purpose.