Why don't they just give us a 250 cred arti Philo stone?

Technically, the only people allowed to have them are Wiccan and Druids. If you don't have access to the alchemy skillset, you aren't allowed to keep (and the Divine will take) the trans item. If not, I'd be sporting cursed full plate

Heck. Yea.

Isn't this similar to Achean snakes?
Achaea snake class had a pet wich was a snake. When that pet was collared it stayed with the owner even when said owner switched class. But they changed it so it didn't work anymore.
It's not fair to have an item belonging to a skillset you no longer have I think.

I've got to agree there.
If you forget a skill, you should lose the benefits of that skill.

Much as I love my gem and tome, you're right. It does seem odd to be able to use them after losing knowledge of the skill.

I agree as well.
I don't understand why it's not that way.

Pets aren't really in the same category, it's not something that's even related to trade. Though I somewhat agree that if you forgot a trade skill you shouldn't be able use the trans item of that tradeskill anymore, as much as I'd hate to lose my fullplate if I ever forgot Forging. But then again, perhaps this is an incentive for people to try out different tradeskills, and also spend more credits.

This is how I look at it:

Tradeskills in Lusternia can be changed. If you fork out the $$$ to get the item, you should be able to keep it. The only exception is when you change archetype such that the item in your possession would not be obtainable - in which case, you lose the item.

Yeah, I've heard of several people keeping their masterarmour and being say, an herbalist. As mentioned before, if you're wearing something, like the armour, you cannot put it back on once it is removed.

Not true. I've issued myself about it and the admins have replied back that as long as you remain a knight, you can remove and rewear your fullplate regardless if you still have Forging or not.

Maybe it was someone that had changed class then?

Fullplate is not limited to forgers but to warriors. Only it's just possibly for forgers to actually -make- one for themselves.

Once you switch archetype, you cannot wear your plate anymore once it is removed, but as long as you don't remove it it stays on.

Which is why a lot of people get their armour cursed before they switch.

And here I went and picked a trade skill just so I could make stuff instead of for combat maxing.

Yes, Shorlen, I think it can last up to 240 months. I know they can be mended at least once, which makes it 160 months still looking pretty. Never really bothered with them till my own design finally went through.

What is WRONG with you?

This is considered abuse and it will be taken by the Divine. It is also why I always appraise targets

I always thought it was just if you can use it thing. Like for fullplate as long as you can use fullplate then its okay. Meaning you shoudl be able to equip unequip.