...a suggestion to alleviate the need to grind low level gear in order to get Materia for low level gear...and to help new players.

For lower level gear (sub r20 or r30), instead of basing the "Bond Rate" on exp per kill, have the SpiritBond increase with each level you gain.

Essentially divide the progress into 1/8ths and every 8 levels you have fully "Bonded" gear that you can make into Materia for your new gear. I chose 8 levels because that seems to be the general rate that new gears become available.

This would only work (if at all) for low level players and gear so make the cutoff at r20 or r30. From then on continue to base the Bond-Rate on exp per kill as it is now. That way higher levels (esp r50's) can grind/farm materia to their hearts content (or masochistic madness).