the really sad part of all this is you don't actually need the gear changes to be that effective. I've done it and chosen not to do it (other than my brd instruments and status bolts, and swapping pet food for jugs). I usually make changes which don't effect the ability to target me (the exception is swapping in my terra's Staff for elegy and back to Apollo's for everything else). The gain from armor switches is really negligible. I am VERY effective in my parties, never blow the hate control (although my pet does, ASA, MKT, and ACP gear have it boosted through the roof), consistent damage throughout and always fulfill my role in the party build. Seriously, I can pull hate off tanks with my bard in base gear... and I don't even have the ability endgame to do damage with my casting. I get a good base set, do my changes with the accessory pieces (when I even bother) and just get the job done anyway.