My Atma grinds never took more, than an hour. Maybe you were extremely unlucky, but I think you are just exaggerating.

I still think that Atma, even when it was much bigger grind when it was current content, was better for open world content, then current relic. The current non RNG system is just so boring I didn't even touched them for more, than one weapon and waiting for next expansion, where they will be a poetic sinks.