As a quick note, crafting is not in game. We have stated its something we'd like to do, but its not ANYThing I would hold your breath on or already be saving for. :-)
A strategy I like to do is to keep all stacks of things I see Swip request. Then for everything else (food, materials, ect.) I like to keep 3 of each in my hoard and I vendor the rest with the sell button. THen you have the item on hand if Crim wants it, but you can sell your extras!
I doubt hatchlings will ever go down to 2k, but I do get what you are saying.
They did in closed beta. WE're in the game's early life. Figure that your two dragons can lay a nest every 15 days and get 1-5 babies. After those 15 days roll around, they can do it again... and the babies can too. Repeat over the course of 2 months and the dragon population will climb rather quickly!
They won't go much below 2K though. The exaltation system ensures that. :-)