Yeah, but there really isn't an excuse for people not using the Elemental stats and some of the mist stats. On Artemis, stat prices are way too high, but here is what you can do.
Stock up on the attribute ripper things, and go with your guild or a team to farm Beth Easy. While it is true that the bosses drop two stats, many times when i run, i see Sta/Def and Sta/patk Mist and others that are actually the good stats. All you need to do is use one ripper, then a puri if it doesn't grab the one you wanted.
Moreover, thanks to shells, them elemental stats are OP and just as good as the Mist stats.
I'd say the hardest and most expensive thing to do are those damned Sta/HP oranges.
Wilderness or Remain are fine if you aren't endgame going for perfect statting. If you are.. there's no way in heck i'd ever use less than the best.
As for this, he's trying to tank, if i read this correctly. That means that unfortunately, he's gotta be perfectly statted or near to it. Otherwise, tanks are useless; in my experience as a veteran knight, anyway.