I don´t think it´s unfair, you just have to take what you get,, with some resources it'll be harder finding threads but you'll find some use for them somehow and get some trades.
I used to have Coal and Pigs which wasn't so good and it took me a bit to look for trades but when I got them, I was quite happy I had those resources.
Now I have Iron and Lumber,, can't complain really XD