Lucis crafting really wasn't all that difficult. You could easily bruteforce through it, for multiple reasons:
1. It was part of the Master Book I, meaning players didn't have to go through the Master Book II HQ crafts to access those recipes.
2. You could turn in the NQ versions of the Lucis items to get the important mats back.
For example, a NQ Fluorite Lens (GSM Lucis item) could be turned in to get the 3 Clear Fluorite and 1 Emery. You'd only lose a basilisk whetstone, a siltstone whetstone, and some wind/fire clusters.