So, this is very wrong on a lot of levels but I'll try to be constructive paragraph by paragraph.
Firstly, you popped 2 (two!) 1k+ mining loots on an input of just over 1ped. This is incredibly lucky, even if you mined continually you may never get that again.
"The economy was rough in the old days" - too expensive items. Now you complain that (L) items are too expensive, but for a different cost reason. It would seem that the only way you'd be happy, is if you could afford everything on your personal budget. But this is an MMO? You play with others, just like in real life, you can afford a car and someone else can afford a better car. Conversely, someone else cannot afford a car at all. FYI - decay is relative to the cost of the item. A gun doing 50DPS will decay (about) the same whether it is (L) or unL, the only difference in price is the reduction of paying markup.
Jeff (Squall) turned over a HUGE amount, constantly amped. He was the owner of the first unL amp and he smashed the concept of mining for most people. He still plays, and afaik pulls out considerable $ - last withdrawal around $25k (correct me if I'm wrong?). Again, to analog real life, this is like you going into work as a IT helpdesk worker and wondering why you aren't earning Bill Gate's salary - you put the same amount of work in, you both eat breakfast and lunch and you're both human. Why aren't you getting the same as him? You could, if you have the willpower, investment and brainpower to succeed here.
It doesn't seem unfair to me - I want the top end of the game to be exclusive, because if I ever reach there, I want it to be an achievement.
Back to the (L) debate - "good armour is expensive" well... yes? That's how any economy works - poor quality or function objects have lower price tags than high quality or function objects. If I buy a Jaguar, I expect it will cost me more than if I buy a Dacia. If you want to play the game at the high levels, you pay a premium for it. Both in up-front cost and continual cost - but a smart player knows how to utilise expensive items to create profit.
Your struggle to differentiate between (L) and unL costs worries me too. Kinetic Attack 5 (L) decays less per use than Kinetic Attack 5 unL - for the same damage output. There is markup cost on the (L) chip, probably around +15%. There is markup on the unL chip - probably around +100ped. Your economic decision is to decide will you use the (L) chip enough to warrant paying the unL markup. Every 10ped decay = 1.5ped extra with (L)... if you use just 10ped decay, the (L) chip is better. If you use 10000 ped (1500 extra with (L)) then definitely buy the unL.
This is
very basic.
Gambling on a single level 13 amp is just that - gambling. I wonder if this post would be completely different if you hit the 1/1000 chance of a large HOF with that level 13 amp.
The people "making money" on explosives are not making money. These cost 20ped to click, each, and they are spending 10000ped per day hunting the ATHs. For the extremely vast majority, this is a loss making activity.
Finally, why, why should you get an ATH? MA have provided you with 7 years of entertainment - if all you're doing here is playing for a big number hit, be prepared to pay for it. Be prepared to buy 100, maybe 500 level 13 amps.
This isn't an easy game. This game takes analysis, thought, prediction, investment, time, skill. And a lot of luck, too. But if you're purely playing based on luck, for the only reason as to get a large number output, I really don't think this game is for you.