My immediate problem with the Delve system...

[Horadrim]

So, I was reading about Delve on the main SoA site; while immediately I was interested and intrigued -- I found myself at odds with the direction they chose for the upgrading of gear.

Specifically, while looking at this picture I found myself disenchanted:



Now, there are a few things here.

First, I'll preface this by saying I completely understand and appreciate that we can't really know the real depth of the system until people start to explore it after next week's update. That is a given.

Secondly, I understand that the stats shown are likely demo/faux values and aren't representative of the actual paths, but...

I can't help but find myself being a tad concerned about this "three paths of development" system. Using the example image, the first augment is pretty much the A#1 that will be used by people. Why? Because it is more or less exactly what the community currently goes for it (at least, as far as I've seen). You've got bonus damage, bonus accuracy, bonus base stats -- the only thing it is missing is haste.

The second option is still desirable, but noticeably less so. I don't know that I know of anyone who would 5ATK + 1STR for 4ACC (let me know if there's actually a situation where that is viable.) And mind you, this gear will be Rare/EX and you likely won't be able to have two of them, I'm assuming -- though I suppose other augment gear has allowed for multiple pieces, so that may be their rational?

Finally, the last option is a huge question mark. My best guess, and my scope on this kind of thing is admittedly limited, is that this would be more of a tanking or solo'ing path... But who, with access to a group for Delves, would need an end game piece specifically designed for soloing and what Paladin (the prime tanking class featured on this piece) would build this piece for tanking over using other gear better suited for the task such as Meikogai, Toshugai+1, or even AF3+2 (I don't play PLD btw, so I don't know what pieces are used for tanking, I just assume that a piece with a lot of -PDT would be a better choice)?

Now, considering these as phase 1 upgrades, you can imagine that the depth of the advancements gets greater and greater. I can't imagine the final path being used by anyone unless you find yourself nuzzled in a great amount of Evasion/PDT or something of that nature that makes it really, really worth it.

So, my problem/concern is basically:

Why would they choose a system of predefined paths where-in most people who will have access to this system would likely (if the stats in each one are similar to this one) use the exact same one instead of allowing us to select and upgrade specific bonuses in each individual slot? Why "Raw Stats + ATK" path and "Evasion/Accuracy" path, instead of each slot allowing for specific attributes (ATK/ACC/MATT/PDT/A raw stat, etc) and upgraded them in appropriate phases? Why not a system that would allow us to develop gear to suit the specifics of our primary job? (Say, allow Blue Mages to add, specifically, Blue Magic skill to their gear or pet jobs to get plus Pet stats -- I can't imagine the 3 path system allowing for that kind of customization, which is exactly what it should.)

Is anyone else concerned about this? I'm not overly worried, as it is still early and there's no telling what the paths will look like, but I can't help but notice my lips curling like someone farted in the cubicle next to mine.