I can understand the concern of these becoming requirements in the eyes of community, but they are certainly not requirements to complete content. I was almost thinking of them as free materia. Most of the time I run a trial or dungeon with people geared to that level I don't see folks bothering to drop anything into even the 2 free slots. You are right though when it comes to endgame content where victory balances on a razors edge. However the requirements to even get to that point look far harsher that what I was proposing to have those small advantages.