You just have to only use them when
(1) you know you can finish your business in a time limit, like a final fight or timed duel or
(2) in emergencies when the mitigation helps and you’re willing to pay attention to your buff bar for blinking after a couple of minutes to duck out of there for a few seconds
Other than that, they’re set mules or easily skipped.
And of course, the ones that provide something you don’t already have are better than the ones that barely have an effect. Elude on an SR tank is perhaps the worst example I can think of. On the other hand, newer T9’s not only don’t drain you, but also they tend to actually give you what you need. Like resistance on Ice or Shield.
My EM/Nin Scrapper occasionally pops Retsu for the DDR.