Seperate armour look from its ability

Similar to the idea another person had where you upgrade armour, however make the look completely seperate from the type of damage it protects against.

This way you acquire whatever armour you want to get your look nice etc, then go get the droknars guy to "toughen" it up to the same all over.

Warriors still have the same possible armour types for example they can just have it on any look. So you can mix and match, maybe knights boots and helm, stonefist gauntlets and gladiators for the rest all with the current stats associated with platemail.

Pre searing armour can have end of game stats with an upgrade in the right spot.

Maybe introduce "tailor" NPC's to make armour with no stats.

As an added suggestion make the armour upgrade cost double every time you upgrade it, so changing your mind a lot takes some gold out of the economy.

I think making a "new" armor skin that has the ability to have ANY current armor stats but all stats provide the same aesthetic would be nice. Sort of like fissure, but pretty. Cuz FoW ele armor looks like a vinyl jumpsuit.