I still find it hard to play my cRPG alts because it's more advantageous to keep on my main -- no "hard work" for alts (or rather, you get the message and it just doesn't do anything and I think "FUUUUUUUUU" every time it happens.)
So I have two three rage reducing ideas:
#1) All Thine Hard Work = extra strategus gold (when playing an alt, since we don't get crafting bonus)
Like each time you get it generates 5000 strat gold. Given you can go an entire generation without seeing the message, I don't think that's "a lot", and it's a nice perk for missing out on crafting.
OR
#2) All Thine Hard Work = +1 for everything your alt is wearing, no negatives
Your main gets +3 to all he's wearing and -1 to everything else. Your alt gets you +1 to everything HE'S wearing but no negatives. So it will take longer but over time you can build up a diverse selection of crafting items, if you play alts a lot.
OR
#3) All Thine Hard Work = just like your main, except it's for your main's saved items (on c-rpg.net) rather than what your alt is wearing.
Bring my alts back into the game, won't you? I don't like having to choose between "having some fun on an alt" and "getting my strat points".