imo without gear swaps horizontal progression isn't all its cracked up to be. Plus the stats are so dumbed down in this game it wouldn't really matter.

They would need a major stat overhaul if they would do that and they are so scared to make a system with any hint of complication that will never happen. The only stat overhaul we will ever get will be to further simplify it. Yoshi even said he thinks its still too complicated for the average gamer, which says a lot either about the average gamer or Yoshida's perception of them.