Did you guys somehow forget or decide to just conveniently omit the bcnm drops of the exact same boots with a different name (and other good items). You get the currencies to buy the orb to access a mini boss fight by the boat load and you can try it over and over until the loot you want drops. IIRC it was already there by the latter half of toau (when I came back after having to quit just before cop due to irl issues) and the drop rate wasn't even low.

I don't even get how horizontal progression == low random drop rate. Like vertical progression can't have that too? One little adjustment and vertical progression can be stupid too. Here: dungeons and ex roulette now only have 7% chance of actually giving you the tomes you're running it for. Normal and savage alex now only has 10% chance of dropping anything at all, upon clearing.