1.5.0 Client Release

[Winter]

For the alternative solution, nerf Poor people's helm, buff rich peoples?

I think it was presented as a clear either/or scenario. Either Swadian/Great Helm is buffed by one or the craftable helmets are nerfed by one.

I doubt that anyone on the developer team really thinks, "We only like rich people, buff their stuff" or "We don't like poor people, nerf their stuff."  I'll assume you were joking.  If not, I think this very patch already illustrates that the wealth of a player has no bearing on stat changes and you would do well to reread the thread.

To better illustrate the reasoning, the marketplace helmets are 56 head armor and the blue craftables are currently 63.  They were introduced at a time when the Grinder Helmet would be fairly easy to obtain and served as a Sargeant helmet for 60 head armor.  Now that it is gone, it would make sense for the craftable to drop down a small amount.  An increase of 6 head armor over marketplace helmets should be acceptable, given that Striped/Heavy Lam is only 8 body armor over its marketplace counterparts (if you want it for a price comparison) and the Transitional is 10 (if you want a color tier comparison).

I am always amazed to see how much people care about 1 head armor.