Quote Originally Posted by Ecks007 View Post
Fate grinding for alexandrites = unreliable waste of time and effort.

I almost wonder why it's even an option at all when it seems like you chances of actually getting one from a fate are worse than the Zenith/Atma fate grind.
In a FATE party you could simultaneously get lucky with alexandrite drop, work on spiritbonding for the materia you need, and gain GC seals to buy crafting material with to sell on the market board and use the proceeds to buy materia for the infusions.
You could see it as the alexandrite drops is a bonus while doing it for spiritbonding/GC seal farm.

If you only look at FATE farming as something strictly for Alexandrites, and ignore the other possibilities, then yes it sucks hard.

Best zone for this seems to be Northern Thanalan.