The grind...what about the grind?! UUUrrrrrrggggghhhhhh!!!
The only grind I do is my coffee.
I have g3 of artemis, maveric (with bigger backpack), and dominator, plust g3 p-15 (fast reload), executioner with scope, tormentor(?) with suppression (don't remember grades for plasmas), all found while visiting stations doing horizons delivery missions (getting a fed rank-up).
I've even done some upgrades, and an eng mod (reduced power usage on artemis).
Not a lot, of course, but what's the rush?
I even got a couple of other engineers unlocked by doing other things (CZ one via the CG, settlement restore one because I enjoy restoring settlements). The rest will happen eventually.