Is there a benefit of maxing out Forester and Prospector? I am proficient at the highest level, so can loot black ash, etc.
I just don't see a need to take it to Artisan.
Not sure I get you? Artisan is Tier 4 and Master is Tier 5 when you can boil exceptional hides and treat black ash etc. Or do you mean mastering master and becoming a Grand Master? The only advantage in the gathering professions is getting crits when making the items. If you use the top of the range tools and the special mob drops to improve your chance of critting, you'll get more return on your input and can make more money when selling. But if you don't care about that then no, no advantage to mastering on any tier.
A point can be MOOT. MUTE is more along the lines of what you should be. - WayAbvPar
Is there a benefit of maxing out Forester and Prospector? I am proficient at the highest level, so can loot black ash, etc.
I assume you mean grand master? No, not as such. The only thing GM in gathering professions gives you is another 10% refined materials. (5% chance to get two additional treated wood/ingots per attempt.) Other than that, it doesn't have any intrinsic values, but on the other hand you're sort of bound to getting there sooner or later anyways.
- I'm giving you this one for free. - Nothing's free in the waterworld.