Blizzard: Tradeskill Nodes Will Give Experience
Herbalists, Miners will get a little boost as they gather materials.
ZAM user CrimsonNeko has pointed us toward a short, but sweet, blue post on the official Cataclysm beta forum: "Tradeskill nodes are intended to give you experience when you loot them." Pick an herb, earn some exp. Mine a node, earn some exp. Seems like a nice little bonus for characters with these tradeskills.
According to Blizzard poster Daeleht, the exp values that are currently being seen on the PTR may not be final. Regardless, don't expect to level your character solely through gathering materials (although I'm sure a roleplaying pacifist will give it a shot). Players who skin and collect cloth earn experience for killing enemies, so this will seemingly just give a boost to those who chose mining and herbalism.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming change? Let us know in the comments below or in CrimsonNeko's thread in our general forum.