Whats the point of AF and other drops if you can buy/craft better?

[Mamba]

I hope the OP is satisfied with the answer to the question in her original post. AF isn't meant to be "endgame" gear, it's a set designed to be a starting point for 50. Also, some of the pieces are quite nice and you will be finding that you use them for a while.

If my post was only about AF this would be fine... but obviously I was also talking about gears that come as a reward from hard fights etc. (I know farming and crafting is hard work but I play game for apocalyptic battles and so on :P)
I never thought AF was "end game" -.- sigh... I sometimes feel like hitting my head on the wall after being on these forums.
I like the idea of being able to "upgrade" af, because yessssssss I am actually talking about liking the looks of the sets... and hating the fact that I have to go back to some ugly gears just cos i can meld materia on them.