MMOs have always had heavy RNG elements and the relic questline is not the only place where RNG is present in FFXIV either. Whether you're running primals for drops or raids/dungeons for gear, you're hoping for something you need to drop (not guaranteed) AND you have to win the roll on it. Crafting is RNG, desynthesis is RNG.

I wish people would quit complaining about the RNG of the relic questline. Do it or don't, it's your choice. SE will almost for sure increase drop rates later on. Worse drop rates are the price you pay for getting something right now (that is better than trying to get a drop from doing hard content, Shiva EX, Coil, etc).

From what I've seen the drop rates for relic items are around 1 in 5 which means you're on average looking at around 40 hours of running dungeons at normal, non-speedrun speeds. This sounds about right for content that's supposed to keep people busy for 3 months. I understand that some people don't think it's "fair" because someone got their item with less "work" but people should do the quests because they're having fun and because they enjoy seeing their characters get better, cooler gear, not to compete with everyone to be like "OMG I have relic and you don't!"

I realize this is just one perspective on the matter. I'm not calling my opinion right and others' opinions wrong, I just wanted to share my thoughts.