Crafting Needs a Place in Endgame Raiding

[Penguinmayhem]

THIS would result in "enchanted gear or bust" WoW-style. Because that's exactly what you described.

I'd rather have crafted bind-on-pickup gear equivalent to tome gear (and BiS or almost with full forbidden meld) with mats dropping in the top content (T6-9 drops), and being untradable. Horizontal progression. Coil drops should be on par or slightly better than those, so no one "has to level a crafter", but it does give an option for those who are.

Personally, I'm all for people bitching that the game is ripping off WoW if it means materia actually become remotely useful in any way.

Better solution would be real horizontal progression. Present a variety of gear that can cater to individual players. Give people options for gear, instead of just a linear path from Darklight to Allagan to Super Darklight and whatever else.