Heavensward started with omni ilvl 150 white gear, that could not take any V materia, and ilvl 170 individual gear. Also, ilvl 180 non-meldable gear could be purchased with scrips.
Stormblood has ilvl 290 white gear, that can actually take VI materia (and produce them via spiritbinding). And ilvl 300 non-meldable gear can be purchased with scrips.
So this is not really the same as back in Heavensward. Also, if u/Hezkezl from reddit is right, the master books will be bought with 900 red scrips each, which is cheap.
