Quote Originally Posted by Nyalia View Post
But there ARE vanity items from 1-50***. How many people use Leather Sandals for vanity? That's a level 1 equip, and a level 1ish craft! What about the Boarskin Skirt? that's a level ~45 craft and looks really nifty.
Therein lies the problem with your argument; both of those items actually have some kind of combat benefit to equipping them. Compare and contrast to, for example, the Spring Skirt which gives you... 6 defense and 13 magic defense. Basically, the same stats as starter gear yet to craft it you need rare components that aren't even farmable, and a crafting level so high that you need maximum materia melds and high level tools.

Another flaw in this argument is that most of the lower level gear looks the same. Many of the items are literal repeats of older gear, with only their stats as the defining characteristic. The 'glamor' items are considered so because they're unique in appearance, which is why they're coveted in the first place.

But of course, wouldn't want people looking nice without grinding the same rubbish for at least a few months would we...?