Since patch 10, it feels like the rate of wealth growth and upgrades has been scaled down. There was mention in the patch notes that the number of magical (blue) items would be lowered under level 20. This increases the need to craft items, which in turn makes Smithing a larger gold sink now. The increased chance to purchase rare items from vendors also increases that gold sink. Even with the forced selling of normal (white) items, I find myself with a smaller pile of leftover gold than in previous patches. I believe the drop rate of gold has been decreased and the removal of the Scroll of Companion adds more work to gold collection, slowing the pace down further yet. All these things put together seems to in fact add more significance to the gold that I have accumulated. They have been talking about making gold more valuable and it definitely seems that since this last patch they are heading in the right direction.
Regarding craftable upgrades, I want to mention that the pacing of crafting has been dialed down too. After every other SK run, I remember being able to sit at the Smith and crank out piles of the same item, dissolve the bad ones, and repeat with little diminishing returns until I got what I wanted. Now that they have simplified the materials and restricted the source to magical or better, I find myself having to think a little bit harder about what I really want to upgrade next.
(I also noticed inferior (grey) items have only a small fraction of the cost of their normal counter-parts, making them virtually a waste of space; not even vendor worthy. Was it always that bad?)
Regarding craftable upgrades, I want to mention that the pacing of crafting has been dialed down too. After every other SK run, I remember being able to sit at the Smith and crank out piles of the same item, dissolve the bad ones, and repeat with little diminishing returns until I got what I wanted. Now that they have simplified the materials and restricted the source to magical or better, I find myself having to think a little bit harder about what I really want to upgrade next.
(I also noticed inferior (grey) items have only a small fraction of the cost of their normal counter-parts, making them virtually a waste of space; not even vendor worthy. Was it always that bad?)