Please reevaluate the balance between crafted and U/U items.

[Bluetaro]

so are the Ifrit weapons less powerful than materia gear as well?

Nah, from what I've read on posts the Ifrit weapons for DoW are the best weapons you can get currently, except maybe outside a +3 weapon with 3+ materia socketed in. I don't think anyone has parsed that out but the Ifrit weapons are quite good.