Orb of Augmentation/Transmutation suck

From a conceptual standpoint I appreciate the ability to use crafting as a means to progress item rarity. In practice however and no matter how early in the game you are, I can't help but feel it's quite pointless. Especially considering the effort behind it to the point I'm left scratching my head why orbs of augmentation/transmutation are even in the game.

Even the scenario were someone decided to use the system and go through the process of "finding a decent base white item -> augment it -> transmute it", the reality is you're probably going to find a much better item in the next hour or 2 just by casually playing the game. So, all the salvaging and disenchanting and crafting for what exactly? And even if you find a decent magic item and decide to transmute it adding a whopping 1(ONE) mod you're again left in the same position of a crappy to ok at best rare item. I'm not saying crafting items need to be better than drops because I don't like that personally but currently the early-mid game crafting is so bad imo it's pointless.

Right now, magic items can't be augmented at all if they already have 2 mods on them. I think that's a massive reason why crafting during that part of the game feels utterly pointless. Raising the cap to 4 I feel is mandatory for crafting to feel even remotely fun and worthwhile.