SE, We need to talk about Leatherworker ...

[Silverbane]

... people with multiple retainers to take the advantage over the player who needs the money ...

Major point: There is no "player who needs the money," just players who want the money. And the game provides plenty if the player is willing to do the work.

Minor point: all characters (above the required level) can have multiple retainers: two each. And every player paying the standard subscription can have multiple characters.
Therefore every player paying the standard subscription can have several retainers, no extra charge.

It can be a pain moving things from character to character though. A big pain sometimes.