I just logged with a character to Republic Fleet... level 22 Mod vendors still show Barrels and Hilts as requiring Artifact Authorization to install/use. These are the exact same barrels and hilts(blue items) that were sold on Mod vendors prior to 4.0 and they did not require AA then.
I can only assume then that since there is no change in the situation this Artifact Authorization requirement is WAI. It wasn't a bug after all. Even ea_David thought it was a bug. Curious.
THIS is one change I won't play under. I am a preferred player, been here off and on since Beta, sometimes I subscribe, sometime I just buy Cartel Coins. I am done being a customer (both subscription and/or Cartel Coin purchases) and done playing the game until this change is reverted. I will watch here and on future patch notes to see if Bioware decides to change this back.
Color Crystals appear to be fixed for me.
Barrels and Hilts from Comm Vendors are unfortunately still flagged as requiring Artifact Authorization despite being green items. This puts a bit of a crimp in leveling a character.
I would put in a vote, though, for getting a hotfix when the issue is finally actually resolved. I was hoping to try out the 4.0 leveling changes when 4.0 came out, not a month or two after. 🙂
Some of the unbound crystals and gear in my possession are no longer showing arti equip req, but anything I reclaim and anything on the gtn still show it.
