Because aside from automation there are a lot of people who like to play this game casual, just pressing F, maybe occasionally noticing to heal, while watching tv or whatever. If you made this game only hardcore it would die.
Then you are aggravating every other player by disconnecting them in the middle of whatever they are doing, middle of killing a mob, middle of survival instance, middle of space flight, etc. I don't think that would be well received.
Since E.L.M. weapons slowed to a trickle, the boxes were needed as a markup replacement. Without either, pretty worthless.
And box prices dropped mostly because of shit rings.