Can you Upgrade Runes without loosing Armor ?

If im wearing a minor vigor, can i install a major on top of it ?

Will i loose the minor ?

If i extract the rune i loose the armor.

What if i want to upgrade the rune from min to maj, or Maj to Superior ?

Will i loose the rune im upgrading ?--so long as i get to keep the armor 15k

If you put a major in a piece of armor that already has a minor (or any new rune in a piece of armor with a rune already in it), it will ask you if you want to replace the rune. The rune that was already in there is gone. In my honest opinion, it's hardly worth it to salvage an armor just to get a rune back.

Well why in heavens earth would you want to take up valuable space in your inventory with less effective armor ?

Thank you for answering the question