Well frankly ALL videogaming is a epic waste of time but this game isn't any worst than any other IMO, the trick here is don't think because you made this armor or that weapon you can take risk and not pay a price for it, play smart play with patience, and unless you drove your Karve off the side of the world you 'can always' get your gear back, 'it can be done', stay clam and start playing 'smarter'. ;)