Let's just all agree spending unknown dev-time into making the game WORSE is a bad idea overall, doesn't matter the amount of time it costs.
I disagree that fixing an exploitable mechanic makes the game worse (in terms of the health of the game).
Whenever nerfs happen for balance reasons, many players will complain their class/game/whatever has been "ruined" or made worse. That doesn't mean they're right, however. They're just naturally equating what's fun with what's best for the game, when it's actually
not best for the game, it's just best for their personal entertainment (which, unfortunately, is not the same thing).
For example, I'm sure the combination of "Raistlin" and "Lonewolf" talents was considered "fun" by several players. However, the developers felt it created an imbalance that was bad for the game (and changed it). So, again, what's best for the game and best in the mind of a player isn't always the same thing.
And with class-less systems how will you determine "what you need"? Maybe you're saving that crossbow for the teammate you will meet in 20 minutes? It's a bit silly finding a teammate, and they have to use a 2-3 damage crossbow since before you met them, there wasn't a single crossbow drop ever since your team didn't raise bow skills.
I would argue that if you're saving a magic crossbow for the day you add a crossbow using companion/henchman to your party, chances are it will be fairly obsolete by the time you get around to obtaining that henchmen. Equipment in this game scales rapidly.
Perhaps more importantly, I would also argue that when you pick up a companion and they scale to your level (as companions do), their "starting" equipment should scale to the level you obtained them, so that you're not running into a situation where you're picking up a henchman at level 12 and he's level 12 with a level 1 crossbow.
