ZOS wants us to go out and explore the world yeah?
Well, what if there was a daily NPC that sends you out to find one particular item. Any set, any trait, PVE, Dungeon, Overworld, Trial, Maelstrom etc.
You have to go out and find it (or buy it if available) and turn it to Gold level.
When you return it and cash in the quest you have that item unlocked. Found at either an armory, or in a specific menu like the Champion points menu screen.
The menu screen would consist of every set, where every item has a drop down tab with all the traits you have unlocked, and another with all the enchants you've added.
Items you unlock are dropped from your loot table, unless from the overworld, in which case, it just lowers the chance of finding.
That way there is value in upgrading and claiming the items with terrible traits because they won't drop anymore.
The same thing should apply for Master Writs too, even though you have technically sold the item, it should add the item to the menu screen with a third drop down for style trait.
That way, after many many many years, you might unlock all the sets and crafting sets with all traits and styles ... and then an expansion / dlc comes out and .. yeah. Back at it.
This will not only increase the price of overworld junk items, but it'll increase the demand for the tempers.
Unlocked items should have no level requirement.
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Cost
Obviously ZOS wants us to be confined by the bank, so perhaps every 10 items claimed reduces the bank space by 1 point to a maximum reduction of 40 points, so bank won't drop below 200 (400 for +). Perhaps even effects the max character bag down to 160 too.
Alternative cost could be an undaunted key, or even a CP point (not removed, just have to earn a certain amount of XP before your real XP bar starts moving again).
Thoughts?