I agree it's annoying. But the idea is that it will help the economy. If you want upgraded tools, you need to buy them -- or at least parts for them -- from someone else, who's a higher level than you. That gives higher level players something to make that other people will buy.

So the idea is to make it impossible for you to make your own level-appropriate gear. Which, in a way, is a bummer. But it helps take money out of the economy through taxes, which helps fight inflation.