Don't raise shards. I think it's just right. You either take the time to gather or pay the price just like anything else. Not sure on your server but Lightning Shards are most expensive on mine at average of 70 per shard. Too tedius for me to spend an hour farming so I just mass produce certain weaver gear, sell the weaver gear to stock up on shards. 1peice of the right armor sold equals 100 shards.