Gear swapping is to much of an XI mentality that doesn't need to exist in XIV lol. Why would you want a game that looks beautiful then taint it with blinking animation when changing gear.

As for materia, you have to dedicate yourself to how you want to augment your armor. If you want the chance for an armor yo have 2 different stats on it, then buy 2 body pieces and put one on each but the whole reason materia is made the way it is is show you have to actually dedicate yourself to how you wish to augment your stats.