Prepare to be merged with the other discussion about exactly what you said.
But yes, traders need a nerf of crafting needs a buff. I played with the spear twice now. Never crafted more than a stone spear. Both times i got the iron spear and the steel spear way before i could craft it myself. Either as a reward or i bought it.
And what you describe is learning by doing. We had that in this game until A17. And it won´t come back. TFP made this very clear.