Quote Originally Posted by Johnist View Post
There is Customization. Instead of spending Philo Tomes on iL70 Darklight, you can level all the crafters, and buy Philosopher Tomestone items, craft yourself iL70 gear you can then equip materia into.
...which costs you a LOT more tomes: 9x125 tomes for Potash for one vanya silk. Robe requires one, that's already 1125 tomes. Breeches require TWO. That's 2250 tomes for ONE SINGLE PIECE that is still inferior to DL until you meld it. Can't really count it an alternative, it's currently designed very badly.