EliseDee thank you for this thread.
I too like and have no issues with the armor or battle systems. People may not like this, but the fact of the matter is... sometimes the majority is NOT right. It's very widely accepted that change tends to be feared and/or seen as "bad" when not fully understood or utilized. People like what they already know and tend to not want to change or adapt.
Most suggestions I see really don't tell me what's wrong with the current system just comments how they want some other system from some other game. One complaint I have seen is they feel they spam skills. I guess I just don't "feel" this, not anymore so than any other game I've played. And hell imo it does beat the auto attack of FFXI waiting for TP then actually getting to do something. (and don't get me wrong I truely enjoyed FFXI)
Is there some lack luster going on in the game? Definately, but that has nothing to do with the mechanics of the battle system.
Could there be better interaction between classes in a party rather than a "bash and smash" in a couple seconds? Sure, but that has more to do with difficulty of mobs being fought and battle regimine seeingly being "not user friendly".
Now the armory system. Not gonna lie I like being able to wear my rank 30 Coatee on my rank 20 character because i like how it looks. (what can I say I like to look good) But I also have rank appropriate gear for when I am actually doing things. So I don't think this system is broken but I do see and agree that adding rank and class requirements to some gear or new gear to create player goals in ADDITON to the current system is needed.
All and all my hope is NOT for a complete overhaul of the current system some tweaks could be welcomed but SE please do so with caution. I think what people need to remember is sometimes what you know you have really could be better than getting something you know nothing about.