[Rant] Shards, Crystals, and Clusters...

[JunseiKei]

I just wish shards were easier to get. Diadem- Matron was great for getting them. Unfortunately, I can't remember Matron popping since 4.0 dropped. At least clusters and crystals can be obtained through reduction. Wish shards had been included in that somewhere, especially with 60+ cooking (and even some 50+ cooking) recipes still using shards.

As for gardening, already have them all in use for other things that are just as valuable, if not more.

As for retainers, like above, using them to gathering more valuable mats to level crafters as is. >_<

I wouldn't mind going out and mining shards if I actually had an incentive to do it. Getting [largely] 1 shard per swing on a level 70 gatherer is incredibly irritating and time consuming. I don't particularly want to buy them, either. Last time I ran around looking at people that spent time gathering from low level areas for shards, they teleported from node to node. I have no desire to support cheaters/RMTs.

EDIT:
And yeah. I've always hated the shard, crystal and cluster requirement along with the mats to make anything. Not hard to get, but in the case of shards, just a time waste to gather. Or in the case of clusters and crystals, you practically roll around in them to the point that they have become redundant.

I'd almost like it better if they placed in furniture that could be used at any level, where to completely rids the cost of any shard, crystal of cluster requirement. You, however, must be in close proximity to the furnishing.