I don't know if everyone is aware of this, but if you haven't noticed, movement speed is extremely beneficial in this game, as with it you can catch fleeing demigods and finish them off, run away from demigods chasing you, and get from flag to flag quicker.
That being said, there is no denying that at least 80% people take the swift anklet as their favor item. I take it constantly no matter which Demigod, because I'm practically forced to.
I have tried to be creative and taken something else, but that simply doesn't work. It was very frustrating when I could killed a nearby demigod who was very low on health, but I couldn't because he got away since he took the stupid anklet and I was bored of it so I took something different.
No favor item should give any sort of speed boost at all.
On a side note, double the cost of boots and wand, and rework the way the journeyman boots work, 5% chance to get 50% increase is just messed up.