i think making weapons/armor should depend on your personal skill as well not just your char skill. Like the higher your smithing skill the easier t is to make. but you must hit it with a hammer in certain spots to make it.

Also interactive mines. Not hit the dirt 5 times i find some iron. more like, dig a mine shaft , find stuff mine it, pull it out, leave some in there sell the mine property. There could be prospecting skill and the ability to dig out and go into tunnels/mineshafts. that would be fun

Runescape rules!