I think the crafting aspect helps make a world of (let's call it what it is) Pokemon much more realistic and lived-in, rather than just being some dumbass kid sent out with these dangerous animals that can kill you 5,000 different ways and being unscathed despite these dangers, and having systems in place where despite these dangerous animals are roaming about, are still able to provide goods and services. Palworld is Pokemon if Pokemon made sense.