The only thing that making equipment class specific does is take away from character differentiation and customization. Musketeers often moan every time they see accuracy on their class specific items as they often don't want accuracty or something else. Some classes are given valor's armor on multiple items and yet the character class that actually has and learns the card doesn't have such multiple access to its own class card. There are light, medium, and heavy armors in the game and they rather than class should determine who gets to equip what. If buccaneers and privateers suffer in melee combat then the heavy armor could be made tougher, or could reflect damage, or could give auto hit attacks the same chance to miss them as any other attack (this would definitely make the buccaneer much stronger). The point I'm trying to make though is that if class requriements were dropped on equipment then instead of the developers trying to balance the game out through equipment stats and playing cards on those equipment (which can seriously upset the players) they could instead work on strengthening the cards of specific classes and making new ones if those classes are at a lack of balance. My personal complaints against the witchdoctor having 3 valor's shields and 2 superior barrage cards on their equipment would be dropped as the playing field would be even and characters could equip whatever they wanted as long as they can equip that equipment type. I still don't think the best spells of any character type should be placed upon equipment, or if they are then there should be requirements that such and such a preceeding spell is required to use it (if you don't know barrage then you shouldn't probably be able to cast superior barrage even if you have that card on equipment, its like that already in the game so it shouldn't be changed as I am against nerfing what characters already have). I get a lot of swashbuckler items that my musketeer would love to use but isn't allowed, and it makes no sense as my musketeer has learned stabby weapons and can use swashbuckler cards that are on musketeer items. Lets drop the class requirements on items and instead improve their cards and talents to make stuff even and fair.

the whole point of gear that gives spells is to get spells that you don't have. if you're a buccaneer, why would you need a charge? if your privateer, why would you need valor's shield? it's not even that good anyway! class specific gear is a good thing. it should exist, it adds a sort of extra level of class difference. idk how to say it. also, only privateers and buccaneers can equip heavy armor. swash and musketeers can equip light, and i have no idea about witchdoctors. heavy, light, and no armor isn't what makes a difference, class specific items just make sense.