Originally Posted by
Xibor
I look at it as kind of a joke prize like the prize on many game shows (the USA 'Let's Make a Deal' used to give a goat). Or otherwise as if my explorer came back but had a lot to drink on the trip and ended up stumbling in going "Look what I found! A Sandwich! An actual Sandwich! Aren't you proud of me????" like the cat leaving me a dead bird and not understanding why I'm not thrilled...
In other words - consider it funny, imagine a odd reason why the explorer would think that item is so precious (maybe the cheese sandwich is made with a cheese that's from his home town and very tough to find and to him it is special).
All kidding aside, I think a level of randomness for such things is by design and an overall good idea. Truly rare items shouldn't be common - and if someone brings one back every time how rare is that? It's actually a chance for a rare item, not a guarantee.