Nonladder huh... you gonna farm to cash in on fg or just play for fun and sell a little here'there? Nonladder ain't the most profitable realm, and 78 fg ain't gonna cut it to make a super decked out character for hell farming.
Though, the safest and probably most fun thing would be javazon for hell cows, or hell chaos runs, though for that you would need good gear for the merc, such as kira's guardian, a high defense treachery and reaper's toll or a very good insight poleaxe for the insight mana boost for your lightning strikes.
You find a few high runes each season, that's gonna recouperate those 78 fg in spades.
And yes ... wow.. last ladder, i.e. a year ago (i lost motivation this ladder sadly), i actually found probably the rarest find i ever found. It was crazy. I found a 99% perf griffon's, only the defense was lacking, the rest was perfect. I couldn't believe it. But, playing ladder, hardcore europe, there are so few players, i got no offers ^^ I think i got 100 fg at the end of the ladder from a guy wanting it for the non ladder realm. So i consider myself lucky there. Both with the find and the quick cash-in.
It is those things you remember the most. It happened too after a looong streak of quest bugged diablo runs, with no luck. Also i did the mf gear switching, i usually do that, you swap gear before the boss kill, boost mf up to 200% or so. I firmly believe that whatever you do, helps. It's gonna bring those super rare finds forward that much more. The griffon's dropped from a damn normal undead fighter as well, or so i think. I couldn't believe it. I actually started making a lightning sorceress just to use it ^^ That's what happens. It's like discovering a new dish with a new ingredient. You just wanna make it again and again.
It's great that you find the motivation to get back into it. Why not make a thread in the pvm section? I'm gonna do that next season, in 2 months ... if i survive that long.
D2:R