...I'm already paying for retainers (non-issue, i'm a crafter) but...I don't like the idea of paying cash for something that others can buy with gil. what would i use gil on then? because i can't see too much that I would...mats? to...make things to make more gil?

No, they tout housing as a feature (I got a bright and joyous email at 4pm EST about new housing, almost made me wish it was a physical copy, so i could rip it up) and...well, we've all seen the technical issues that happened.