My theory, Save points are the new random encounters. every 3 steps, out of nowehere... BAM! Save point.
I don't even use em to save until I'm ready to quit playing. But I use em to sell random accessories and chips and crap to buy upgrade materials. I like upgrade materials. Had a high level Gladius by the time I got to the bioweapons research place. Lit that boss up like a christmas tree hitting 4 digit numbers. And I've only become more psychotic with weapon enhancements since then. Building up weapons is the new grinding! And save points every 3 steps make sure I don't have to run back and forth too far to do it. Though admittedly, I wasn't even aware of the retry thing, I still haven't died. Got close once, then the power went out lol. But yeah, abusing the Solidarity Paradigm makes life easier. Makes some fights rather slow, but I like not dying, so I don't mind that.
Bookmarks