I'll reserve judgment until I try it out, but I was a lot more excited before the clarification. It ruins the whole sentiment to me - we get attached to our gear by owning it for a while... so we can get rid of it? I liked the idea more when it seemed like I'd be forming meaningful attachments and memories to the gear I had, as opposed to just running around in it for a while in hopes it'll turn into something nice later.

It seems like another half-heated attempt to justify crafters having their own classes by forcing uses for them into every crack they'll fit in.