plsssss
Honestly if you think about it, the ec cost makes sense, taking the price out just so people and go willy-nilly with demon and sage changes outright just kills another aspect of doing anything in the game, you're already being fed free gears and you can always make another character and choose alt path if you don't want to spend ec/don't have enough. I agree though that the price could be reduced but completely getting rid of the cost makes farming or doing events even more redundant. If it's something you really want or need working for it gives you something to do and look forward to.