competition between players is what drives players to spend money to get better gear/items. So they sure do care about competition lol.
PJ's point is valid, if you make all the stats the same, everyone would have the same gear and things would get dull. this is why there is a randomizer on all item drops and also on the option stones you use to forge/make them. Only the most patient OR rich can afford to make max gear with max options on it, which is rewarded with the most amount of power.
Upgraded weapons have not been sold for a long time because GM's are scared new sales will hurt the game more than it does it good.