Well, dezgard... It's hard to say how things go in future. Cause game always changes, we look at your suggestions, think of new ways to make things better and make it))). So it all up to us, people, how game, game balance, crafting system and etc will look.
About guns and other ranged weapon, of course we plan to add them in near future, cause it's simply ridiculous don't have them))). But I think it will be after Prelude.
I think you'd better ask Jordi about combat mode and craft if you want to understand it better and know nuances.
About fast travel system. We plan to add mounts and who knows how thing will go in future, cause maybe someone will discover/invent trains and steam engine or even planes!).