OK reposting this from the taleworlds board because I keep forgetting this one exists. Anyway:
chadz, why not just put time limits on item usage instead if you don't want everyone running around in plate with flamberges. Then people don't need to worry about cash flow and can still buy new shiny things. Think of the time limits as 'down tme' while the item is being maintained, 'cept it doesn't cost anything. For heirlooming perhaps because the items are higher quality, the time you can use them for increases a bit and the repair time doesn't change.
So say you wear your plate for 5 rounds. After that its bound to be damaged so its sent off to be repaired for say 7 rounds. The time it takes should be proportional to item cost. In the meantime you have to wear something else. The mid tier items would be like 5/5 rounds or something and low tier 5/3 etc.
This would force people to go through a full rota of items and keep the mix up. People will still be able to have their plate/horse/flamberge and afford it because they won't be losing gold. It also favours grinders even less, since its time dependant it doesn't matter how stupid an amount of gold you have saved you don't use it to pay for repairs.
Thoughts?