You can see from XI that S-E's MO on armor and monsters is (and certainly will be) to re-re-re-re-use models and pallet swap. That being said, I've always praised XI's armor for it's level of intricate detail, which just got better and better over there years. Now, all they'd need to do to make HQ noticeable and (somehow. I swear! It works!) desirable is turn just one of those layers of detail they hide (as shown on the video) and give it a lighter shade color than the one being used on the armor itself. For example, black armor? Turn on a few little details and make 'em gray. Brown armor? How about making the details right there darker brown, or lighter?

The Dragoon Artifact Armor set compared to the Dragoon Relic Armor set (FFXI) would be a great example of this, granted, I am aware that they did add some small extra details in there (they generally do), but just taking some of the existent details on current armors and giving it a different colors should serve the purpose, and be relatively "easier" than making all kinds of new effects.

I am not one for wings and glows, that's why I play This not That, and it never felt like this world's direction to begin with. But with the current situation, the change of team and the fact that money talks (it's still a business, y'know) and copying from There would certainly be profitable (even if it hurts us all to admit it), I'd understand if they went that way (and cry myself to sleep). C'est la vie.