Tanks have always felt the need for both STR and VIT on their gear. Many tanks will currently mix and match Fending and Slaying accessories, because they want and can benefit greatly from having both stats.

The best of both worlds is the crafting accessories. Compare the current "best" tanking necklace:

Prototype Gordian Neckband of Fending - i190

To the much "weaker"

Citrine Choker of Fending - i150

at first comparison, sure the citrine seems weaker, except you can meld another 31 str on it.

So 40 VIT and a few extra secondary stats on the i190 vs. 29 VIT & 31 STR on the i150. It's no contest. What tank would trade 11 VIT for 31 STR. That's a huge boost to threat and damage if it's spread across 5 accessories. The only problem is you have to go through the really frustrating melding process.

Shouldn't the current end game, i190 gear be obviously stronger than the crafted stuff that you can get before you even set foot in a single end game dungeon?

If the non-crafted accessories simply had half of the STR on them (IE: the gordian necklace was 40 VIT/20 STR), I think this would be much better balanced and not weighted so heavily in favor of the crafted accessories.