who else thinks that these need to go or make it so that they are more convenient?

this resource has annoyed me ever since i begun crafting and has mostly wasted my time as well as my retainer's progression. not to mention that the number required for each craft are increasing as i progress.

overall, im still obtaining one shard, crystal, or cluster per gathering swing, and the quantity can only be increased with an expensive 400 GP or plain luck.