yeah, quest items aren't really worth the time at low level. very worth it when you're high though

i don't really think the merc skills good, other than their buffs, i just max the swords and axe buffs full, and blade skills, beserk is the only decent one, if you're not AOE
at lvl 60, use detra swords until 75, then historic axes to 90, then angel axes until 105, then you get legendary golden Axes until 120, you can get bloody swords. you can lower the levels of these items by -5 or -10 levels if you can afford to