You can certainly get IO set recipes in a lot of places, can't you? In the interest of helping people who want to slot out their characters but don't have a gazillion Inf, I've written up a mini-guide suggesting some of the best ways people can obtain set IO recipes by grinding for them rather than paying for them.
One thing you missed about Hero/Villain merits: you can get 1 per week from doing a Signature Story Arc. (Also Astral Merits, Incarnate threads and Reward Merits, but there are better ways to get those.)
You can certainly get IO set recipes in a lot of places, can't you? In the interest of helping people who want to slot out their characters but don't have a gazillion Inf, I've written up a mini-guide suggesting some of the best ways people can obtain set IO recipes by grinding for them rather than paying for them.
R_M's Guide to Obtaining Invention Set Recipes Outside the Auction House