I am not asking for complete modded Recruit gear (a.k.a. Champion gear, R.I.P.), just empty oranges of Recruit gear being obtainable through investment in Synthweaving. Yes Among other things, the colors are different.

Exactly! By not allowing moddable versions of Recruit gear, that gear becomes like a very short stop on the way in gear progression (which is intended), ultimately leaving it used by close to nobody. What I plead, is Why not let the RP community/SWTOR fashionista create Orange versions of the Recruit gear if they so wish? I don't see the issue with that possibility being there! This is mainly a case for the players who care how they character looks for the looks only, not for the status that comes with it. Not everyone is only in it for the climb.

In the PTS update notes from 3/30, there is this one: PvP items purchased with credits (Recruit and Champion gear) can no longer be reverse engineered. First of all devs - Does this mean Empty orange versions of Recruit gear is unobtainable in any way whatsoever? If so, here goes: Personally I believe this is an unnecessary change. I have tried to come up with a reason Synthweavers shouldn't be able to make empty oranges of Recruit gear and smack in any mods they like, and so far I have come up with only one: "Non-PvPers shouldn't be able to wear any PvP-looking armor" - Since Recruit gear is purchasable with just credits, this is a valid point. But, people who actually care about this, should remember that Battlemaster and War Hero gear are easily distinguishable from Recruit gear, and thus they will always have more "PvP credit" bouncing around in their BM or WH gear. My main argument why orange Recruit gear should be craftable/obtainable somehow, is this: Freedom of appearance - By removing orange versions of Recruit gear, you leave that gear style out in the cold so to say, so that if you want to dress your char in that gear for the looks, you are left with lower stats. Everything else in the 1.2 update seems to support players' free choice of how to have their character look, if they choose to lay down the work for it (= crafting oranges and collecting high level mods for them). The Recruit/Champion PvP Gear sets have their own unique looks, and are IMO some of the coolest sets in the game for Consulars.

Love it! Especially the UI customization. Will be holding my breath for chat bubbles after that #RP

Stoked!