Totally agree with you. I'm fortunate that I get to play quite often but those that can't, the casual player this form of progression is supposedly intended for, will not be getting their Animus any time soon.

The sheer Myth grind alone can take an incredibly long time, but at least there are varied ways of doing that. The biggest problem as OP alluded to, is the FATEs. The intentionally broken FATEs that will spawn once or twice a day such as The Taste of Fear in Coerthas or Taken in Southern Thanalan (I could name many more.) I didn't mind the Atma grind, because I could do other stuff while doing it. I could grind some FATEs in hope of my Atma dropping while queuing for a dungeon, or waiting in a PF group. But these specific book FATEs? You can't do a damn thing. You can't even craft. I waited 4 hours straight for Taken (alongside someone who been waiting there for 2 before I got there) By the time it spawned there were so many people waiting it was over in around a minute.

Doing FATEs for Atmas I don't mind. However sitting in one spot, not battling, not crafting, not gathering, not even able to queue up for a dungeon is just totally wrong.