This is about as random as Atma, not referring to the randomness of the item drops but as to how people manage to get "rare drops", to the point where I would probably discourage new venturers from going as DoL tbh. :-(

I have both BTN/MIN retainers with high enough gathering for the XIV Exploration, I sent them out on about 4 Quick Ventures each and quickly gave up as they were all useless (fish, housing items) and there seems to be less chance for useful item acquisition between DoWM and DoL. Not so much as a complaint as it is a system that was obviously not well designed (hence the 2.3 "nerf").

Its gotten to the point that I prefer to stick my retainers on shard duty.