This is something you should read before posting any suggestions about upkeep in general.
We get it, its new, its change and people don't like change.
Still, stop posting suggestions that are basically a way around upkeep. I get that too, i thought like that as well, but now that i started playing the new patch I am really enjoying it.
So instead of thinking up things like: "One item that gets free upkeep" or "A repair skill to make items cheaper to repair", just remember that all of this has already been suggested and that instead of changing it back to the way it was, just grab your sword and try to have some fun.