This one is in agreement.

Especially when one piece of an outfit uses armour padding and the other does not.

This one personally would rather that the premium cosmetics not be craftable as stand alone items at all, but rather be Illusions that one learns so that they can just place that appearance on any piece of gear and be done with it.

If there is some pressing need to make blood crystal relevant, make it the crafting material used for the illusions.