Why is this specific mechanic during Relics Quests still that way?

[TaleraRistain]

The funny thing is, they sorta do, the Replica vendor is right there but it won't unlock until the current step is finished, for future steps we will be able to just grab a Replica at moment of turn in for 1000 gil, but the *current* step is an issue.

My solution ultimately was to hop to Old Sharlayan, grab the Artifact weapon, and hop back to finish the quest.

Yep I went and grabbed the artifact weapons too since I could just destroy them when I was done and snag them again on the next step.