In my earlier post on items having static attributes or arbitrary attributes, the issue of how to organize items came up as something that must concurrently be considered when deciding on static, dev-created items or player-generated items.

In Eve Online, they have opted for static, dev-created items.  Crafters of a common item differentiate themselves only on the back end: profit margins.  All player-crafted 125mm Ionic Rail Guns, for example, are identical.  Now, the blueprints used to craft those rail guns, however, can be different.  But they are only different in how much time and materials are required to create the item.  A “better” crafter simply means he has a cheaper, more efficient way to produce the exact same item than a “lesser” crafter does.  A “better” crafter does not and cannot make an item with better attributes than a “lesser” crafter can.

Contract Eve Online with Star Wars Galaxies: the “better” crafter is the one who, in addition to sourcing materials cheaper, sources materials of better attributes and produces an item with better attributes than a “lesser” crafter can.