Instead of gear loss how about a less harsh outcome?

[DNO]

Quote from "[dev1017] Materia crafting system (name tentative)"
"•Attaching Materia
Attaching materia requires the “materia melder” key item, an apparatus which can be obtained via a quest available to Disciples of the Hand level 18 or above (with the exception of culinarians and alchemists). The apparatus allows players to attach one piece of materia per item.

Players who have met certain requirements can obtain the more advanced ”augmented materia melder,” which allows the attachment of up to five pieces of materia per item. Players can never fail to attach the first piece of materia. However, the success rate progressively decreases with each subsequent piece of materia. A failed attempt to attach materia will result in the loss of all items involved in the process, barring the key item."

Now i think losing gear in an MMO is Very harsh. I guess it will be ok in this game because you are allowed to rank up all classes and crafts but here is something i suggest.

Instead of losing the gear (some +3 gears cost over 10 mil) how about losing all its durablilty? SE can make it so you can only slot Materia on gear with 100% durability. To make it harder SE can even add another "spiritbond" type meter. This second meter is there so you can not slot a Materia to a gear one after another. So once you fail/win a sloting you have to build this second meter up again to try another.

Those are my ideas. What are yours? lets talk about other outcomes other then gear getting destroyed that we worked hard for. (crab bow +3........)

P.S. I wont be answering smart remarks (Doc...) nor is this thread for people who like the upcoming system. This thread is for ideas other then losing gear. Keep it that way.