Ok thats just dumb, this is prolly one of those aspects of FFXI where SE needs to be a bit more realistic. tough NMs and 200 mile long quests are one thing but, to make some poor staff wielding mage wait 3 days and compete with every other player having the same endeavor is kind of unreasonable. A rare drop rate and a 2-4 hour pop timer would be more than sufficent. That way its a quest and not a retirement option.
Poor mages don't upgrade relics...lol. If a mage is upgrading staff then he'll have more than enough gil to buy this as well. Nobody camps Bloodsucker NM for the pigeon blood really, it's for the bloodbead ring.