@Pawsmack:
The reason the heat levels of gears star 0 - star 3 is 0 to alchemize them is because of the equip bind feature we have in spiral knights. If we were to do it the way you propose, then gear prices for those star would skyrocket because every knight that wants to create and sell for example a star 2 gear, they would have to equip it, heat it and pay a price to unbind it to their knight, then be able to sell it. And no one is not going to not add the unbind price to their weapons selling amount. I can only agree to this idea, if the unbind price was dropped by half or more. This would still increase the prices of these weapons, but at least it would balance out less grinding time for all of us. I actually would like this system that you propose, But what i am displeased with is the heating system or the weapons itself. I feel each weapon does not gain enough bonuses from heating the weapon.

Things such as charge attack of some weapons should be more dependent on the amount the weapon has been heated or some special effect should be put on some weapons. For example, Make it that all brandish sword gear only be able to launch 1 or 2 waves or energy upon charging the attack at heat level 0. Comparatively, these waves in attacks will grow as the weapon gets heated and at heat level 10, the waves would emit their own kinds of effects. These effects can be based on each weapon to give each weapon a unique feature. A good example of effect for a brandish wave attack like the 5 star Combuster is a Scorch effect where after the wave has been released, The ground where the wave was released upon will stay glowing magma orange or red. The orangish glow will make it that any monster that walks on this ground will be more receptacle to catching fire from the swings of the brandish normal attacks (Very similar effect to the fang of vog, but is limited to the monsters that walks on the charge attack). This effect can last 1 or 2 seconds, but as long as it's their, it will differentiate the combuster from other brandish weapons like the Voltedge (beside having status effects and damage points). Another kind of effect for example is the barbarous thorn blade where on the third hit in it's combo attack, the blade would grow longer only upon impact of a monster/target. This small effect would differentiate it more from the other 5 star flourish weapons. Anyway, that is a discussion for another thread.