I can’t even remember the story. Just that you meet the big bad, then he just does nothing for the rest of the game. You go to four elemental temples, then collect memory orbs that tell his backstory but don’t explain what he’s actually doing. I think he was grooming Sorey or something, it wasn’t clear.

Gameplay wise I think people just didn’t understand it. Equipment is a red herring, completely useless except to get maybe one exceed on your first playthrough.

Armatization was intended to be jumped in and out of. The damage meter that pops up when you armatize is meant to be a soft timer, where it doesn’t kick you out but you are less effective.