Items being tradable doesn't mean they are not exclusive. It isnt possible to generate more of those items. You didn't have to sell your grat shield. The fact that these items are circulating now proves that players didn't really value them that much to keep them. And let's not be harsh; I'm sure we were all bad at PvP at one point of time.

Also buying things for real money is not STS' problem. It is against the rules in the first place.

If there's one thing I gotta agree about though, it is the 3pc ring.