User blog comment:H-Man Havoc/ME3 Recommendations (Everything except plot improvements)/@comment-743796-20100728032852

@ FluffyMagic: I think Bioware did what they did because they wanted to speed up the action and tune the depth, much like what was done with its comparison movie: the Empire Strikes Back. I also think that they wanted to tie up this downgrade as you will, by making the Citadel a mere stopping point and not the gigantic trading point that it was in the first game, due to the climax of ME1. However I believe the system will be restored to some extent in ME3, considering it would take 5 years before it is repaired and this next game may take place in 2178 when that occurs.

Another theory is that because Cerberus is a rogue Human organization, it doesn't have too many sponsor companies for weapons and armor, so often times they have to produce their own gear.... this may be why in ME2 it feels as if the armor customization is linear.