Originally Posted by
Rentahamster
Well, if they're going to be that strong, then being meldable is a balance issue, yes.
However, the reason why I think that blue things should be meldable is that it allows for blue items to be destroyed. Thus, if someone blows up their blue item, they then have a reason to complete raid content again in order to reobtain that item. Thus, replayability is maintained.
The current hardcore players face the following situation - run ifrit over and over until the weapon they want drops (which may or may not take forever)
Once they get it, it's over. If a certain population of hardcore players insists on blowing up up their Ifrit weapons in order to put a materia in it, then they actually have a further goal, and a reason to run Ifrit even more than they do now.
However, in the name of balance, the first meld should be something low, but not discouragingly impossible. Perhaps 25% or so.