Music to Their Ears

One allowance here buys 21,600 EXP, the best of the 6 Lv 20 Goldsmith tradecraft leves that record EXP: the runner-up manages 18,290 EXP, 15% less.

Across that rung the return runs from 8,990 EXP to 21,600 EXP per allowance — 5 distinct figures spanning 140%, so the wrong pick leaves 12,610 EXP of the allowance unspent.

On whether to wait: the best Lv 25 Goldsmith tradecraft leve returns 36,390 EXP per allowance, 68% more than the best on this rung, while the Lv 15 rung behind tops out at 24,790 EXP.

At Lv 20 this data holds 52 leves paying EXP across 2 categories: the 48 Tradecraft ones average 17,352 EXP per allowance, the 4 Fieldcraft ones 113,304 EXP, which puts this leve 24% above its own category's average.

Gil ranks it differently: 290 gil per allowance is 2nd of 6 on the same rung against 1st on EXP, with the best there paying 292 gil.

Brass Ear Cuffs ×1 is a Lv 21 Goldsmith recipe, 2 steps deep through 2 intermediates, costing 8 units of raw material and 6 crystals.

Handing that in returns 2,700 EXP and 36 gil for every unit of raw material the order swallows.