The Lessons Not Learned.

[ty_taurus]

Hasn't the first step of the last couple relics been relatively fast and easy, and then future steps start taking more time?

Something else to consider is that they may be balancing the grind around the amount of total jobs which continues to increases. There were 9 jobs at the start of ARR. Now there are 19. Sure it's no time at all to get 1 weapon, but if you want to grind more, then do all of them.