been a while since i've read this manga.
@flannan haven't read free life fantasy but from what I recall of Only Sense Online, he still solo adventures but only has craftsmen level stats and his aoe damage requires expensive gems. he also dies a lot when soloing. The story more or less progresses like Moonlight Sculptor because it relies heavily on author-induced character luck.
as far as pure crafting goes, especially from a Japanese standpoint, I think it really fits in their "think and work together society" mindset exactly because pure craftsmen usually end up supporting and being supported by other players. plus you know how much the japanese love their cooking, can't shut up about rice/soy sauce/jp foods even in another world.