I think it depends on the server. I play on Silute and there it’s easy - or easier - to find singu3, 4 and 5. So even who’s starting can - at least - try to go to sing3.
About the topic itself:
Yes, the game has become different from the older versions where you had to go to some maps and drop specific items to craft your weapons and armor, and then extract the ichors.
I can only think about farming gems. And to be honest I’ve never gone to any map trying to drop’em unless I can run some challenge modes - map where desmodus drop, for example.
And I do it for fun, not to sell or earn silver/bg etc.
Instead of launching new gears, maybe they should revamp the old ones to a new or newer version, like wastrel, ignas, asiomage, lolopanther etc.