Board Thread:FAQs/@comment-36926079-20190801193714/@comment-2601:681:4F00:AAFB:2924:7438:18C2:ACE9-20200110062326

Okay, let me solve all your problems... MAYBE just maybe hardlight dust is long lasting with weak effects. So things like screens and lamps and banners and whatnot can last severay days on a single vile or dust shard of hardlight dust. Making it very efficient. So, its rare, but seen everywhere since it has a long lasting efficient effect. A single dust shard could light an entire street and supply the banners and screens for days for all we know.

WHEREAS in combat since its shooting out high velocity projectiles or creating REALLY STRONG swords or hardlight effects it gets consumed rapidly. That is how I choose to justify it.

TL;DR Its rare proportaionally to other forms of dust, but still there, and super efficient for weak barriers and screens and the like. A single vial or dust shard can supply an entire street with light and banners, and screens for several days at a time.