Why do you think the newbee will sell the vials if he can make mana/healt potions himself (no requirements, remember). I would just buy the first batch and then keep on making these potions for myself... since there is no vial loss.
You're thinking like an experienced player, not a newbie. Why would a newbie want to sit around making potions? Most newbies aren't going to look through the encyclopedia and realize they can make the potions themselves. Even if they realize the *can*, that doesn't mean they'll want to spend the time and effort making them.
I must be the only example! Not a true newb, but my character is and I'm new to more than one update it looks like.
Remembering that potting was frustrating for me with losing ingredients and doing the Harvy shuffle for vials, when I finished the Wraiths tour yesterday, I put his bonus into potting and decided to work on potions first. Of course without noticing yesterdays update! Making reasoning pots at level 8 loses about 25% or more of my vials through the failure rate. Having the vial disappear when I drink one is frustrating, also not particularly realistic. After all, when I chug down a Schmidts I don't eat the bottle, I take it back for the 5 cents!
I know I can buy mana pots and use them up for no benefit, but that doesn't feel very realistic either. I recall at one point eating nothing but FP's and using the empties to make pots which I'd sell back to Mira for more FP's. Usually keeping potions in my own loop that way. The new system will work, just be somewhat slower.
You guys have a point. Most newbies won't figure out potting for a good while. Originally I didn't until I realized that guzzling reasoning and will pots while making Titanium bars gave good exp!
