I think what all of them are asking for is some sort of "leg odometer" in the dungeons. As you walk, you are awarded gil! So if you wipe your party on the trash mobs that you always ran past, but now have to fight them, you can just run in circles until your gil counter has enough to cover your repairs. That would make all of you happy, right? why should you have to run from the entrance to the first boss without being paid?