Most of these dead ends are things you actively have to go out of the way for with how Underspire is designed.
and when you do get a drop, it’s typically a bunch of Traitstones, shards/jewels (extremely low unusable amount), and trinkets.
I just take a look in that Treasure Guardian Community Drop Rates twice a month to see what other people have been getting and get depressed. I’ve started skipping some weeks and the $2 to buy lanterns for that week now.
I’m totally drained from finding nothing but duds and 4 Sentinels in 1 year doesn’t make me thrilled when my next 12 are all probably going to be duplicates.
Just like those Soulforge dragons, some are going to get lucky and get them right away and call this system perfect and others are going to need 30+ Sentinels.