Been trying the beta and checked the market more closely.  The stuff is a little better (in things like percent/damage) and they require less, so yeah if you pay money you do get some nicer stuff.  All I can say now is at least it's not by a larger gap.

Sony is willing to pay through the nose for exlusives - how else do you think classics like Uncharted and Heavy Rain haven't gone multiplatform yet?

smitherean

Don't you lose all your gear you bought that you have equipped on your guy if you die?

EDIT: Just checked online but real money is used to buy a different in-game currency (Aurum) to buy either cosmetic stuff or Weapons and gear that you could buy also with the in-game money (ISK). So paying money is just to look pretty mostly (assuming the gear still has skill requirements)