I like the current system. The old system was too annoying. I don't have time to go look for herbs everytime I want to make/use a potion. The result ended up being that I never bothered with using potions, or oil etc.
Now, I use them all the time. It's great. The oils are still bad tho, coz you can't use them in combat. Sometimes I don't even know who I am fighting until I run in to combat mode.
agree on both points.
thanks to the new system, making the first potion is a little hard since its not so easy coming up with the ingredients, but i dont mind that because it's a one time affair. once you manage to get all you need than you create the potion and that's it - you got it for good. it makes creating the potion harder but more satisfying to do, and not a chore cuz you only do it once.
and, again, thanks to this - im using potions A LOT now. in TW2 i didnt bother. was too much pain to collect them every single time.
as to oils - yeah, sometimes you need to read and listen to the quest to assume what monster you are going to fight and use the proper oil, but i usually managed to do that. also sometimes i see the monster before engaging into combat so i stay far from it, use the oil, then go close and agro it.
and i would also like a small 1 second animation for using potions. just a quick "geralt brings his left hand to his mouth" animation during combat or no combat to make it seem less "game-y". just like signs are not instand but need half a second to cast (or more, in alternative modes) and the game still works - so can potions.