Looking back how grindy some of the ARR relics used to be (the drop rates of everything and fates spawning times were not as generous as they are now) I don't think this is the worst which could happen honestly.

Considering that the main reason this questline takes so long are cutscenes, which you can skip, it does not sound half bad for people who are not so fond of Hildibrand. I imagine there might be way worse steps introduced to the whole relic grind on top of it yet as they are supposed to be not super easy to get anyway.

Either way I am just really curious to see how it will all tie together.