originally no giants dropped keys (or pieces of keys) to ST. it was only Zlandicar, Klandicar, Sontalak, Yelinak, and Lendiniara the Keeper.
velious is when i really hit stride raiding, and distinctly remember 12+ hour stints in West wing? of ToV camping giant-faction armor.
that and PoGrowth sucks.
I'm looking forward to this item:
http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=4027 -- solely because I never got it in live. and this one, because of how many hybrids hated my rogue ass for having it:
http://everquest.allakhazam.com/db/item.html?item=4341
i liked the fights of velious much more than any particular gear though, AoW, Aaryonar, Vyemm, Vulak ... duoing Lodizal. these things made Velious the best.