Swamp dragons were essential on OSI, as they reduced player damage by 20% as well. I think they're fine here, because they're expensive but not prohibitively so for those who want a relatively small boost in power. Even if you only made 100k per hour farming, that's about 10 hours of work. Not terrible, and helps the economy.
As for AR clothing, I've never understood why it exists. Why create an item that permanently makes all characters stronger against a specific class without a counterbalance? If we're going down this road, where's the +magic resist patch?
The Commanding Lord armor is another example of this. It's a blessed suit of 45 AR meddable armor, again without a counterbalance, and only four people have access to it.
Again if only 4 people or even a small percentage has something it's fair to say the odds of you having a situation it effects you is small. That was a reward for being here then... 5 years down the road people may be complaining about items we have now?
Not that I disagree with anything you said I am just pointing out the issue is sub .01% chance it effects anyone really.
I wouldn't mind more unique items osi never had though. We have charged traped charges, talismans, armor patches I would love more items actually. How about a magic resist/reflect patch... Maybe leg slot or gorget something g different?
How about items that hold charges of magic reflect like traped pouches or rune books? What about weapons that where in osi and also era correct weapons that had chance on hit!? Chance on hit lightning?