Don't bother with the "items", just do the entire game in Virtue Mode, as you find pretty much all the equipment you find in shops in those various blue chests, rendering those stupid jobs useless.
The story - non-existant; it's essentially a watered down, really really really really gimped version of Silver Star Story's, but without the "memory", as the game is easily forgettable.
I just think that for an RPG it's not worth the hassle, go find another title for the DS instead, and with the recent releases of Lost in Blue, Trauma Center and Castlevania, you shouldn't have too hard of a time.
The only reason I could even see buying this game is if you're a collector and want a complete DS collection, but even then that's reaching it.
The deal is appreciated though, OP, don't get me wrong
Maybe I'm just pissed I didn't wait out, because I knew it would be bad from previews I read, and having completed the game, wish I could take the game back and get a refund
But I'm a sucker for portable RPGs, it's pretty much all I have for my GBA collection