When everything is out of date

[PROBOUND]

You dont need the Galleymaster's Frying Pan. The i170 (Dyable) crafted gear/tools are meant to be created by the advanced crafters who have the skill and stats to complete them. These crafters have put in months/years of work, honing their rotations, learning the ins and outs of crafting as a whole.

SE incoporated 2 progression paths for crafters in HW. The Hardcore Route (GalleyMaster) and the Casual route (GalleyKeep). Rather than risking countless millions of gil on matts and materia to pentameld, SE intends casual crafters like yourself to instead purchase the i180 variants with RedScrips (3-4 weeks worth i believe) in order to avoid these costs.

You asked where is the balance? Perhaps you are asking the wrong question. You should be asking yourself which pool of players you fall under (Casual or Advanced) and then start your gear progression.

The answer is clear to me, as any Advanced crafter worth their salt wouldnt even be considering gearing their Culinarian until after all of their other classes. So that being said, cap your Weekly Crafting Red Scrips, Create a 550+ Collectibiliy Culinarian Counterfoil and then purchase i180 Culinarian gear to your hearts desire from the Vendors at Idlyshire.

Just because its there, doesnt mean your entitled to it. Put in the work, and you'll reap the rewards.