Maybe now when people have nothing better to do then leave their char at random outposts for hours on end while sleeping or such, but a retainer is something that works even when your NOT there and elsewhere, it would allow finding stuff in fields or selling a way to get more ecnomy going, especially in more remote areas, I might not hang out at a camp idling, but I mgith setup a retainer there to sell stuff. right now other then dragon head, any camp outside of the first few starting areas will require heading back to town every day or so, and doesn't really give much ability to explore or just find a better camp.