So within the wasteland there's all kinds of different "jobs" or "professions" whatever term you would coin with it right? So, why should we limit the game to the main way of gaining experience via questing and grinding. This would potentially open up a lot more of a diverse game and open up the target audience in ways. As well as give experience for essentially everything.
Here's where I sell you on it right? Alright, so you may be worried people will level at too fast of a pace and get high level gear but here's where you can fix that. Make different types of gear for different types of "jobs" and make it essentially in the Final Fantasy XI with job changing. Since, if you switch a job you're not going to completely forget a skill.
This is what it could do positively for the game. One thing I love about Eve Online is that in the outer colonies it was completely character driven. Where I understand the need for NPC shops it would be nice to use that as a starting point, but then being able to branch out and go mostly player created content. This would also open up character possibilities. This is one thing I love about Final Fantasy XI as well, I've never gotten far into it but from what I've observed I loved was Chocobo breeding. Granted, I love those birds but it's where I get at with opening to a wider audience. Someone who wants to just walk around the wastes and scavenge for supplies to be able to sell or craft into other things can do so. If someone wants to just make weapons they can. Then if someone wants to be the action hero and do all the quests they can as well. This would open up possibility of the player generated world as the wastes would be.
I dunno, this is just an idea that came up to me and I thought was awesome. Lemme know what you guys think.

