Funny thing is ... equipping Traits to lower VIT, for example, does not influence HP either. Since DEF doesn't seem to change either, I wonder what benefit anything has.

My "hidden" +potency from rings do not show, only the extra from my HQ weapon. Not even my +potency food.

I guess parsing could clear some of this up ... but there doesn't seem to be the community in FFXIV similar to Elitist Jerks for theorycrafting...