Questions Regarding Materia Extraction and Application.

[Raldo]

Cools, thanks. I did not know there was actual data on spiritbond conversion rates.

And yeah, I was just using the example provided by the OP. The minimum level required to meld is plainly pasted on every single piece of gear, so I figured that part was obvious.

One more question though:

5. Do you have to have the matching craft of the item in order to EXTRACT the materia or do you just merely require a lvl 18 Craft other than cooking/alch?

You can extract the materia on any class/level, even DoW or DoM. The quest to convert a piece of gear into materia is accessible by any class at level 18 (see below).
Quest: Forging the Spirit
NPC: Swynbroes
Location: Central Thanalan (29,20)