A problem with that solution is that the loot system was so garbage that you could likely go through multiple playthroughs without finding a single decent item

A problem with that solution is that the loot system was so garbage that you could likely go through multiple playthroughs without finding a single decent item for your character. At least when I played, most uniques were completely inferior to highly rolled magic items from the end game. It was basically at the point where your only real choice end game was to grind gold to buy items, it wasn't even worth it to try to search for items.