In Ragnarok Online, there's a buff skill that makes your gear unbreakable for a duration. The skill consumes a crafted item (so effectively the skill is the same as a buff consumable). Alternatively, you can give your gear an affix that makes it unbreakable but in return you can't use an affix that increases other stats.

Taking damage flinches your character (interrupts your movement). There's a buff consumable that makes you immune to flinching for a duration. Alternatively, you can also give your footgear an affix that makes you immune to flinching permanently but it lowers your max HP.

I think there should also be an unbreakable gear that can also be given another affix, and an anti-flinch footgear that doesn't lower your max hp. But they're super rare.

I personally like that kind of horizontal gear progression. What do you think?