It still amazes me how this kind of extremely crucial information has to be told via a user's friend on page 5 of a random thread in a subforum. We are truly flying a family business.
The elite bonus applying to EQP is very nice, and the 35% increase in Titanium requirements makes sense now. Without it, Titanium would be more common than hippie coffee shops in downtown Seattle.
but still many mysteries and strange dis-incentives remain. and for a new comer AS top tier is an extremely steep hill to climb.