I'm actually in favor of things breaking more often IF and this is a big IF - you can more easily replace them. As it is many of the pieces of my suit are very specifically crafted using reforging, random additions from heartwood and a forged metal tool so they become expensive items I have a hard time replacing.
If it were like the old vanquishing days one vanq weapon was the same as the last so if you lost one - your backup was the same thing.
Too many things in crafting and in the game are so tailored that when you do lose something - its often expensive (lots of runics and luck) to replace it. Reforging has made it easier but its still a bit crazy. Like I need my arms to be HCI 5, Stam 8, Mana 8, LMC 8, 10/22/14/18/10. Thats the exact replacement. To get that - i need to craft said raw piece with right damage spread. I need to imbue up 5 properties then enhance with heartwood and hope to get the HCI mod on it (random chance). It might cost me millions to replace that one armor piece not to mention the cost of the Forged Metal tool.
If it were something like a AC 50, Magic Resist 22 piece and I just needed another one like that - I could stockpile and then if it randomly 'broke' in combat I could gear back up and get on with it.
Speaking of balance - most people don't want to spend the majority of their gameplay 'gearing' up for battle. The battle is the more fun part. This game has turned into more of a build suits game than it is adventure. And honestly trying to find an armor piece from a drop that I would even consider using is useless. The only armor drops from Shame that I use are high end brittle/cursed items that make good mage training suits. I've NEVER put a single piece on my character as armor as your needs are too specific for them to work. I have hung on to some jewels but armor is always either training or smelted. Its a product of the armor game being way too specialized to hit your 70/70/70/70/75 limits.
I really would like to toss all armor or change it to a system whereby its only 2 resist mods - physical and magical. So you go for 70/75 suits. Then it would be SO much easier to roll in items because you would only have 2 resist numbers to max out. Then your focus could be on the other mods. With 5 mods everyone is trying to max all 5 which makes armor pieces nearly impossible to fit puzzle pieces. It has made it VERY hard to sell generic armor to anyone as the resists have to be *just right* to fit a suit. Hop on any shard besides Atlantic - take 1m gold and try to build a suit from armor vendors in Luna. I think you will find it very very difficult. It shouldn't be that difficult to 'gear up'.
