Maybe much later in the game we could eventually build our own village and hire other (random NPCs) vikings to do our bidding for gold coins. Possibly add in a "Friendship" system with NPCs that make them eventually give us gifts of materials, food, weaponry/armor, unique items, etc.

Would have the dual effect of:

1. Making gathering a bit less tedious for those that were burnt out.
2. Make use of excess gold coin until the trader is updated.

Personally, I don't mind gathering at all; I just hate when a particularly-important resource early-on (like Tin, for example) is in very, very short supply, which causes me to venture out in to the Ocean much sooner than I want to for some extra.

However, knowing what I do now about that game, that doesn't bother me so much since I can counter anything currently in the game fairly well. But crossing a narrow Ocean path on a raft because you need some extra Tin and encountering a Serpent sure is exciting. ;)