If Blizzard wants to give players a richer itemization, build diversity, and endgame longevity, Sancification needs to stay going forward.
Diablo 4's Itemization Problems
Gear in Diablo 4 comes in three core flavors: Legendaries, Uniques, and Mythics, but realistically, there isn't much in terms of choice for these items, and the core changes to Tempering and Masterworking in Season have only made them less interesting by removing variance and individuality from gear.
For any given build, there is a set of enabling uniques that must be used, full stop. As an example, Death Trap Rogues not equipping Scoundrel's Leathers or Eyes in the Dark would not just make the build worse, it would make the build entirely unplayable. These item slots are essentially "locked" for each build, with no alternatives available.
Similarly, Mythics share the same fate. Items such as Harlequin Crest, Shroud of False Death, and Ring of Starless Skies have become staples of many builds, or in the case of Starless Skies, sometimes even build-enabling through the resource cost reduction. With Uniques and Mythics, it is normal, almost expected, that 4-5 item slots are pre-determined, locked in powers with no diversion.
In terms of variance and inter-build diversity, gear progression, power-scaling, and even endgame grinds, that only leaves Legendaries to do the heavy lifting of the entire gear system. And yet, Legendaries suffer much the same fate as Uniques and Mythics, with aspects like Vehement Brawler's Aspect being required parts of builds as well. From top to bottom, Diablo 4's gearing is dictated and pre-determined not by gear, but by the guaranteed effects on them.
Sanctification as a Solution to Diablo 4's Gearing
This is where Sanctification comes in. With the numerous outcomes available to the system, double aspect items, sanctified affixes and more, item slots are no longer "finished" the moment a required piece of the puzzle drops.
Gear with Sanctification is more individual, enables gear decisions if certain aspects or mythic powers are added, and gives players something to gamble and work towards. Chasing that perfect piece of gear is one of the great joys of any ARPG, and the base game without Sanctification doesn't have the itemization depth to enable that chase.
For the good of the game, Sanctification has to become a core system starting with Season 12.
