There are, by far, more 95 relics than there are 95 empys. Yet 95 relics should be better, when getting them to 95 is alot easier. We dunno what's in store for 99, but if they are equally challenging, there's no reason relics should be better.

Relics are easy to obtain these days. What you're saying is salvage armor should be better than empy +2, because salvage gear was so hard back then vs now.