Just focus on item levels first, since its a sure thing. We already know that red gourd stat caps (Drop from TI brothers hard) are better than the previous items. If you focus too much resources early on reforging, and a higher tier item gets released in a future TI, then you just pretty much wasted that effort. Farm red gourds, level up your items, and leave reforging for end game.

I never mentioned that red gourd is a better item than the gold gourd. Its your choice on how to interpret my words. I personally would prefer to maximize resource handling by focusing on item levels (which c*ways be transferred to a future higher tier item), compared to using items + a gourd stat to tweak stats.

Currently the opportunity cost of replacing a stat (assuming the use of 6 items to feed the gourd stat) is about 1/3 to 1/4 of an item level for me. I'm in no rush to start tweaking stats and finding that +80 att/nin stat to pump into the items I have, I'll just take things slow. Anyways in the big picture, this doesnt impact battle results anyway lol. Everyones roughly the same in this category. A couple hundred points in base stats wont swing the tide in 99% of ur fights.