Maybe they should keep the required level and class stuff on the higher level gear, and keep things, say 30 and below with optimal? Maybe there's a lot of Optimal gear below 30 that's not dated, I haven't really gone over all of the lower level gear yet, but In any case, while I see the uses of Required, I also see where the OP is coming from in a sense as well. Should totally be able to use a rank 18 weapon as a rank 15.