Prepare a sacrificial weapon and strip macro for when you think you're going to do something for kicks and giggles.

Wearing and using equipment at your optimal rank or lower will give you keep your repair costs at both vendors and fellow crafters lower. I.e. don't be a rank 18 lancer using rank 48 armor and weapons.

At worst, you function at Heavy Gear damage.

A step up, you use an NPC repair person to get your vitals repaired, such as your weapon and your best pieces of armor. It's 75% and a gil sink, but at leasr you're not waiting around or beseeching for a repair for hours.

Be like a cultist, don't die alone. Fight together! Survive!

*gets chased away from high rank gathering node, experimentation is dangerous*