Both of you @DeLindsay and @Veechard have 2 different opinions and have 0 reason to fuss about it I mean come on is it that hard to just agree to disagree this bickering is really boring and unnecessary if you guys got a problem deal with it in a conversation not in a thread about selling an item
I feel like a lot of people overestimate the value of sockets. Sure they're rare (~10% chance) and they give you a little more customisability with your stats, but they're only worth 5-10 ilvls in most cases (15 on a few slots and about 20 if it's a trinket that doesn't match your primary stat). That's not even considering the stam that ilvl gives, if that's useful to you then the value of sockets will be lower.
The only time they will really matter is when your gear is near the ilvl of theoretical best in slot, which isn't realistically achievable at the moment anyway. Before that, there's no point in insisting that every one of your items has a socket when the non-socketted equivalents could be cheaper or better for the same price.
Edit: Leech on the other hand is 4 times rarer than a socket and serves a unique purpose with no alternative source, so the value of that bonus can be pretty high for those who need/want it.
I feel like a lot of people overestimate the value of sockets. Sure they're rare (~10% chance) and they give you a little more customisability with your stats, but they're only worth 5-10 ilvls in most cases (15 on a few slots and about 20 if it's a trinket that doesn't match your primary stat). That's not even considering the stam that ilvl gives, if that's useful to you then the value of sockets will be lower.
The only time they will really matter is when your gear is near the ilvl of theoretical best in slot, which isn't realistically achievable at the moment anyway. Before that, there's no point in insisting that every one of your items has a socket when the non-socketted equivalents could be cheaper or better for the same price.
Edit: Leech on the other hand is 4 times rarer than a socket and serves a unique purpose with no alternative source, so the value of that bonus can be pretty high for those who need/want it.
Personally, I get a lot of shit for stacking haste for my gems on my Arcane mage, but I find it to work very well for me. With Arcane mages getting stronger with their abilities as you reach 4 Arcane charges, The faster I can get attacks off, the quicker I can get that 4 point Arcane barrage off. Also my missles get faster, allowing me to get back to rotation faster. Evocation as well, can get back to casting much faster. With Arcane mage, you don't want any down time. ALSO, on of our main cooldowns is Arcane Power which if you play an Arcane mage, never lasts long enough . With haste stacking, yes I might lose out of Vers or mastery, but mulligan makes up for that. Picture 1 second or less cast Arcane Blasts, with mulligans putting your crit at 70% when it procs crit. My record is 11 second kill on 2nd boss in Nelth. I won't stop stacking haste till I hit 100% which isn't possible.
With that being said, sockets matter a TON more to me than IL. However, leech matters more than stam to me at this point as I have no self healing. So for me it goes in order of usefulness, socket --> leech --> warforged or titanforged. My art level 20 gives me more than enough stam