What is the point of crafting cards with items if there is no vagabonds?

[Tinker]

What do items do if there is no vagabonds or if you have it?

[Gruffle Ploum]

Crafting cards is entirely for victory points for most factions. Vagabond being able to take them is a draw back if anything.
Tracking the items that have been crafted is solely because there is a limit on how many times each item can be crafted to limit the amount of VP that can be gained without interacting with other players or your factions unique mechanics.

[Zothen]

Good luck winning with e.g. otters without crafting for VPs, hehe
Partisan deck also has cards that allow you to flip an crafted item for an extra action.