Probably because there are alchemy mats growing every few feet or so and fairly easy to farm. But I do agree that they should do away with the completely useless “Snakeblood” passive and give us something useful in return, like a hireling. Would also love to see a JC hireling.
That's what the Shadowy Supplier is for. I absolutely hate that I have to park most of my characters in an outlaw refuge just to log them in once a day to grab their hirelings and alchy mats from Remains-Silent. I think that damned Fence "assistant" should give me said alchy mats and ever-rising amount of poisoned blood furniture - I'm up to about 185 of them, and thousands of Alliance potions I don't want.