Not true. There are RPG with no artifical restrictions whatsoever.
You have two kinds of items restrictions:
Those that are based on common sense and those that are based on pure mechanical rules with no connection to the world or lore.
Is there any explanation provided for why a character that is LVL10 can't use a LVL14 weapons?
Do levels exist a real thing in that world? Nothing is mentioned or implied.
Such POINTLESS restrictions are just simply bad mechanics and bad gameplay design. Again, I'm asking you to tell me what purpose those restrictions serve? What do they ad to the gameplay? How do they make the game better?
The answer is that they don't.
And yes, I will drag in real world because all fantasy rests on those fundations.
Even the rediculous explanation that "you're not serious about a fighter character" doesn't hold water. All it does is restrict you in how to build a character. Dump all points into one stats. Others become completely useless. The "One True Build" school of design is outdated and flawed.
They add decisions, and decision making is the core of any game, way more in RPGs.
Why do you need STR to wield a sword? Because you have to decide between putting points in STR to wield better strength-based items or put points in other attributes.
Does it make sense? No it doesn't! But so does not Weapons giving you points in attributes, like why holding a sword makes me stronger? And why holding a sword makes me even better at wielding swords?! (like a two-handed bonus)
Are there alternatives? Yes there are, but when you have items that gives you bonus to important stats, it does make sense to require stats to wield them, because that way you can control the flow of the game.
