I look at it this way - I hate dropping any professions I had to make stuff to level, so my tailor, blacksmith, JC, Inscriber, and leatherworker will keep their jobs, even if I don't use them that much. Like leather - my rogue and druid have the best she can make, so I've just been stockpiling the stuff - and when I have a shaman team, they will have the best I can make the minute they can equip it.

Gathering professions, I'll drop, no problem. I've filled an emptied my guild bank so many times, I've lost count. Just set your guys to gather while leveling, and sock it away, that's what bank tabs are for.

Put some thought into your team at first, and then give each a trade, and a gather. Then, when they're 80, switch em, or just enjoy the proffessions and their perks. Make life easy on yourself and make your lead herb/mining, I wish I had. Make at least one a tailor, the extra cloth is nice.

I've NEVER regretted getting 5 bank tabs. Worth every gold. I would work on bank tabs first. I have alts with bags full of recipes and patterns, I have two stuffed to the gills with low level herbs and ore, and I still have to empty my tabs out on a regular basis, its so easy to get stuff (with the exception of titanium ore)

I don't think anyone picks herbs on my server anymore, I spend half my time picking them, stacks and stacks of them, I make a good side income on frozen lotus and inks.