Also, the take-out system feels like a conflict, which isn't always appropriate. Although this is a minor problem at worst, it bugs me.
It's only a conflict if you frame it as one. Summoning a friendly or mercenary entity might be framed as building up a bribe of items or power. Building a construct is probably best framed as gathering all the items which go into the making of the construct. Either way, the narrative is what matters. The mechanics merely decide how detailed a narrative is needed.