You're playing an MMORPG - there's always going to be gates to slow your progress to keep you subbed longer and (sometimes) to keep the economy in 'balance'.

You don't have to wait to continue your relic line, as I said: you can either have a person meld the material onto the weapon for you or buy one pre-melded on the AH. You can spend gil and get it fast, or spend little gil and get it slow.