"A Word of Caution Regarding Changes to Equipment Binding"

[Bufkus]

Exactly the changes I expected since it was a bug that Item Level 70+ wouldn't bind until the Coil.

Now we can make Rank IV Materia.

Not really. What they're saying is that the equipment will become bound once you use them once. They didn't specify that the items will actually be able to be spiritbonded.

[Johnist]

Not really. What they're saying is that the equipment will become bound once you use them once. They didn't specify that the items will actually be able to be spiritbonded.

Items begin gaining Spiritbond as soon as they Bind, so I don't see why you would assume it wouldn't gain binding.

[Laryndra]

Items begin gaining Spiritbond as soon as they Bind, so I don't see why you would assume it wouldn't gain binding.

i believe you are looking at this backwards. Items become bound because they gain a spirit bond. think of it this way..
0/100 item is unused/unbound. You kill 1 monster and it yeilds 1 spiritbinding point = 1/100, item is now bound. Still requires the monster to be the appropriate ilevel.

The way i read this change is irrespective of your gears item level it will still gain that first point and bind, but likely not gain experience unless you are within the appropriate content. (This is also going off of SE's unforgiving track record for things of this nature.