They could also dump the materia system and give crafted gear fixed stats, but allow them to be upgraded via esoterics and raid drops.

For example, crafted i180 pieces can be upgraded to i200 via tokens that cost the same esoterics as the piece being upgraded or to i210 via Gobcoat/twine/dip.

This opens a much needed third option for itemization, allows crafted weapons to be more than glamours, and removes the absurd gil sink materia requirement imposed on crafted gear.

Oh wait but they won't remove the materia system because something something FFVII.