Dent/stoneshatter/etc. can have a huge impact on a fight, as it immediately removes armor that beyond the simple AC could also be giving them other stats. I remember denting a pair of gauntlets in a fight that effectively removed a few strength points which was enough to weapon drop combined with boneshatter.

You also act as if it is just a couple of gold while it can be quite a bit to drop on repairing something over and over again in a continued fight. If you are an outlander, you are effectively without that piece of gear for a while. Even if they keep going to repair it, you could figure out where they prefer to repair and have a gank set up there.

If you want gear rotation, kill the person and take the piece of gear. Otherwise, this just seems like another complaint over things changing.