Quest items being 'guarded' by creatures shouldn't be approachable until after kill

I've always thought it a bit silly to be easily able to approach a quest's supply pod (to find it empty) until the creature guarding it is killed. Have just completed 'RENDEZVOUS: Delivery' where a mammoth boss 'guards' an quest item in a supply pod. The supply pod is in the open and easily accessible while the mammoth is still alive, the contents of which will 'magically' appear once the mammoth has been killed. Why not place the pod in a cave or behind (or on top of) an ice wall or ledge, or something like that? Would seem a lot more credible (and more of a challenge too), than just dumping the supply pod in the open like it is right now.