I guess this is technically a suggestion so I'll post it in here and move it to testing feedback if anyone think it fits there better. I have no idea honestly.
Recently, we had those armor buffs which were just buffs that nobody would really argue besides Shadowsun going shadow which is something we liked in PvE as this is a PvE based game, so that batch of armor buffs ended up being for the better.
However, some things did not turn out ok. We had the Dark Retribution getting nerfed, and then Pepperbox gaining knockback. If we had players test these on the test server and these were both put back until a bigger batch of nerfs / buffs (to make it more worth opening test server) then OOO would realize that they hit the Dark Retribution way too hard, and that they added useless knockBACK to the pepperbox. We understand that the devs had to remove the PULL IN, but in addition to this, the devs added knockBACK that we did not want. We could have said something so they could've just made Pepperbox keep enemies stable like Blitz Needle.
Then, we had the Radiant Sun Shards scare, where the devs almost made it pure piercing accidentally. LUCKILY, we caught this on the test server because it was there on it and we had an opportunity to let the devs know that we did not want it pure piercing. Then they ended up keeping it like it is and not touching it, which ended up being a good move on their part.
Now this is not a thread to argue these changes, and I would prefer it if we stayed on topic: Do you think it is worth it to do this so they can see what we like / what we do not like about weapon / armor changes?
What OOO would do, is put up all of the items that are being changed onto featured auctions. We can buy them, then go test em out in the ATH / arcade / whatever. We'll manage from there.
I know that they can just post a "What's in Development" thread, but we that doesn't let us test things out. Part of the RSS scare was AFTER a what's in development thread was posted proposing the change, and EVERYONE disagreed, yet it made it to the test server in the future for some reason (thus why we got scared).
Post what you think, there is supposed to be some weapons update coming soon and this is mainly why I am making this suggestion.
I like the knockBACK on the pepperbox... although testing would be nice. What if it really is better without the knockback? I'd love to see and compare charges with it, but I really like to use the charges on mecha knights.
I think this is the solution to balance in spiral knights though... hire (or get) someone to read/work with people in the suggestions forum and then implement things on the testing forum... most buffs aren't incredibly hard to do either, most are like "give it 25% more damage and stun chance!" not "make 3 mecha knights spawn on the charge and make winmillion shoot lightning bolts instead of things." Not that I'm biased by the fact that I post a ton in threads regarding buffs or anything.
I've been wanting OOO to test weapon changes on the test server for a long time, but I always figured that they were smart enough to decide whether or not to do it on their own (and that they wouldn't listen to me)... thus, I am not the OP.