Then how is it impossible to optimize your stats again? It's not. you even said yourself, you know how to optimize your gear. It's obviously not impossible then. Again, the equations are not important, the only thing that's important to being able to optimize your gear, is knowing generally how each stat fits into those equations. Whether or not each stat point has a dramatic effect, has nothing to do with it either, it's about knowing that 3 points in x stat isn't enough to make a huge impact, so that piece with 7 in y stat is better.
Whether we can swap gear or not has absolutely nothing to do with having the optimal setup for your class. take this example:
With gear swaps, lets say for the sake of argument that the dl gloves are best, but for a single weaponskill some melded cobalt mitt gauntlets are better. In this scenario you are not optimized unless you have both.
Without gear swaps, the dl gloves are always best, so in order to be optimal, you need the dl gloves.
So you can see through my example that gear swaps actually make it more difficult to have optimal gear, not to mention do a number on your inventory space, as well as make balancing a serious pain for SE.
