Feels like I am missing something

[Rawrz]

I wouldn't say that. It is the only way to save one gathering attempt in the early 50s. With toil + Discerning Eye + Methodical Apraisal + Methodical Apraisal, you can get 4 collectables at level 50 to turn in. How else could you achieve that?

In my opinion, you should only be using skills like toil when you want to mass unlock all the items from the node, the very first time. From then on, after its been discovered, you should be saving the 300gp to heal the node with ageless words/Solid Reason if you don't need the GP for the extra appraisal. After you get Single mind you don't need to use ageless/Solid, but that's what it's good for before 57 for collectables, but I guess that early when you're not using instinctual for the rng boost, it works the same! xD