1. By relics I assume you mean unique items. Who knows whether it's intentional, or whether the code that generates "random" required items is truly random. Unless one joins the development team, one would likely never know. And even so, it's not like it helps much. Unique items probably aren't supposed to be that easy to make, or there would be even more adventurers running around with tons of gold and 20+ prestige.
2. Since the list of items for making uniques and scrolls is random (maybe), all items have potential uses. I've never seen a bedroll required by a sage or wizard though, so if you have a tent, then the bedroll can probably go.
