So far so good.
Scribing is certainly getting me to explore Tamriel and that's not a bad thing. Naturally we'll get side tracked along the way too. I see it as a very clever means to extend our gameplay.
The way drops work I feel that I'll have to diversify my play time. But then... so many companions to level up too and they each have specific needs such as Mages or Fighters Guild dailies. As usual everything is interrelated. No complaints. If anything, I feel that if I do a Mages Guild daily for a companion then I'm getting more bang for my buck. Sometimes it works in with Endeavour Weeklies/Dailies. So I'm more likely to do said dailies or, heaven forbid... an Undaunted daily (the easiest of which I'd solo as I detest speed run groups - I like to smell the roses, trip to the refrigerator, chat on WA etc).
The usefuleness of Scribing... Well I typically load up crit and use crafted gear sets for crit or sometimes a lower level Vet dungeon gear set (which I'd solo - just saying - I do like to get the blood pumping sometimes too, like actually have to move in a fight).
But lately I'm exploring hybrid health / main stat. With "while slotted" skills for major/minor stuff, Oaken (remember when it first launched - crazy times), main stat regen and that doesn't leave much wiggle room for skills so I see scribing as adding a bit of missing AoE or whatever. Plus some nice colour effects to feed into the fantasy of the character I created too (I solo RP).
I do like the characters I interact with and the overall ambience. One or two are candidiates for overall top ten favourite NPCs in my honest opinion.
(Tangent incoming: In so far as Gold Road quests etc... haven't started really. I'm not into the previous chapter "champion saving the world" and this is a continuation. I prefer to be a side kick in a much less existential threat situation. Thinking back to the original zone story lines. But then... the original Main Quest is unbeatable and that was definitely an existential threat. More John Cleese please)