ok, might be a bit of misunderstanding here,
I was more saying that having gear that only one job can use, that has specific traits/values/abilities further makes jobs unique, and that means we dont have to go too crazy trying to make the actual jobs so rigid.
I do see what you mean about having job specific gear limiting visual choices, but the game is already like that now, if i want an evasion set up, i need specific gear, if i want a defense set up different gear, and im limited based on my class. And frankly thats not enough visual differentiation for most people, i think its only going to get more rigid, whether its crafted or not.
Personally i would enjoy some type of high level system where you could customize your look, and not be bound by a certain gear look for certain stats, but it doesnt look like most people like that idea. They want monks to look like monks, whm to look like whm etc.