Explanation : like in DCUO when you find a piece of equipment its cosmetic look and shape become binded to you even if you get a new piece of armor. I know that your character is supposed to showcase your new stuff, but for example the hunters starting helmet looked better to me then all the others i saw in the beta, but due to Def and skills i couldnt afford to keep that look forever. Tl;dr get armor, the cosmetic aspect of it stays with you if you want