Upgrading your gear in the first place is completely optional. The fact that it is set as an attainable goal means people will be trying for it. I don't have to use armor OR weapons appropriate to my rank, but if I want to do my job well you'd better believe I will be. Saying "You don't have to" presents a false dilemma. You don't HAVE to play Final Fantasy XIV. You don't HAVE to wear armor. But, you know what, if you're serious about your job, you will.

I can think of a fairly simple alternative if making crafted goods more desirable is the main benefit of all this. Require additional items to make slots. Want a slot in your Jade Hora? Feed it another Jade Hora. Voila. Demand goes up, headbanging goes down. I don't know if they plan to allow slotting of Unique items, but it wouldn't be too hard to require a non-unique analogue, so long as it's made explicitly clear when you attempt to slot it just what you'd need. Or, maybe they didn't intend slotting of Unique gear and we can sidestep the entire issue.

My point being, "You don't have to" doesn't really mean much. Of course we're going to. Don't make us grind our teeth while we do.