And UMD, I think...
@SorO_Lost: I, at least, was trying to AVOID statting sephiroth... But, you make intriguing points. However, you won't quite get the correct effect that way, as if level 50 or so....
....Wait, how does a level 40 party beat a level 50 + templates sephiroth, even with an 1 to 5 ratio?
Also, wands don't quite work as an analogy, as materia gets STRONGER with use.
It's more like, slotless magic items of spell, which automatically get upgraded by WBL, while restricting wealth gained directly as money.
WBL isn't really money, after all - it's magic item access.
I had a point, but it got dull.