Best solution would have been to not even have created the materia system to begin with. Sadly, the relic quest line has never been about challenge, and always about time sink (and gil sink). It really shouldn't be any surprise, because the relic quest line has basically been the go-to method of forcing players to experience all content, especially older content. It was only a matter of time before the relic quest line highlighted the "amazing" materia system (it spent more than enough time highlighting FATEs, old dungeons, etc.).

Don't be too surprised when Hunts get mixed into the relic quest line, or any other system not already a part of it.