I think the issue is people approach the whole upgraded relic thing like it's the ONLY thing in the game to do. I'll just go ahead and preface this with - yes, I do participate in Second Coil - so maybe my opinion doesn't hold as much merit on the subject.

I think it took me three weeks to get all of my atma together while I was seeing posts on Reddit that people had it within a few days. Last week I finished my Animus quest and started my Novus quest, and I was averaging about a book per week for the Animus since I was doing the majority of my Myth grinding on the weekend. I've had an i110 weapon from Coil for three weeks now.

I guess I've had enough varied content to do that my life didn't revolve around grinding out atmas or myth everyday because I didn't feel like it was the only thing to strive for, just an alternative. I think had people taken a more casual approach to it (like I feel it was designed to be, even though Yoshi-P was a bit surprised at how many people DIDN'T have an Animus prior to 2.25) that they wouldn't be so butthurt over it. Everyone has different circumstances though, and maybe the upgraded relic actually is the most some people can strive for.

Also, I think the main point I took from the OP was they don't like fighting synced down to level 3.