I know this idea is probably going to get blasted, but figured I would test the waters. What if there was a vendor that only sold Tier 1 Materias.

Don't really see it as something that would hurt the economy as Tier 1 Materias don't really sell for that much, usually less than 1k. Basically no one is getting rich spiritbonding low level gear to convert it to materia.

I would say besides your relic weapon (novus step) and crafting/gathering melding to reach certain caps the biggest use of Tier 1 materia is melding it to higher level gear to speed up its spiritbonding rate.

If there was a vendor that sold Tier 1 materia people just starting out might actually use materia when leveling there characters because as it is right now by the time you convert any leveling gear you are more than likely not attaching it to any of your current gear because +1 Vitality isn't going to change anything.

Basically the materia system below level 50 is non existent, except maybe when it comes to crafting and gathering leveling and even you get more benefits usually be making or buying HQ crafting/gathering gear instead. To me this could get more people using materia pre-level 50 and would potentially in the long run get more interest in high level crafted gear as the real benefits to it are when it is penta-melded.

Well I could make more points, but this is getting a little long so I will wrap it up. Thoughts?