If they do it right they could always do:

HQ Hard to get item XYZ Ore, ABC Log, MNO Fish used to upgrade your DoL tool
NQ Hard to get item XYZ Ore, ABC Log, MNO Fish used to obtain your DoL Barding

That way both are being used towards something, sure it will take time but it won't add a stupid amount of time sink, and it will give us something to use the NQ items we gather on.