I am sure that some uber elite player can gather full abs set in minutes.

But most of players are newbies or simply experienced.

As for me, I know 5 spots of aura wands (lets just talk about one protection)
1 has align/ethos restriction
2 and 3 - never saw on the place at all, trying to check time from time (they are easy)
4 - getting about 1 time from 2 attempts, keeping close to my heart and so on
5 unable to get on midranks, not sure if its in or not.

So, I have aura just time from time and can not afford my self to use it in every battle, dont speaking about keeping it up for ambushes even.

Shield.
I know 5 places, maybe 6.
1 never saw in, possible to get on midranks, but might be hard for certain classes. For invokers mostly.

2 is a scroll, quite expensive. Not all mages can use scrolls.

3. Never saw in, quite easy to get.
4. Saw in a few times, maybe 1 of 3 times I check. Very easy to get.
5. Has align/ethos restriction. Quite hard to get too.

So, now in my life I have shield wands time from time. Use them for really hard battles.

And. I dont fight berserkers alone. Ever. Without exclusions. If they have much less rank I can try to sleep but then I flee anyway.

And, as I said, I am not a newbie. If its the way you intented it to work, then okay, but as Xanth, I cant see who has fun from it except you.