Lower raw stats on high level items or bad luck?

[Lanicus]

I'm beginning to notice as I climb the hardcore ranks (currently level 50) that it's getting harder to replace items with high +stats from the auction house. For example, my 102 DPS spear that has something like 140 str/80 vit is great, but it needs to be replaced. when I look for lvl 50 items on the AH, I can find 190-210 DPS weapons, but with +stats that are no where near my current weapon. Same goes for my shield -- I can find shields that add a ton of armor, but are no where near the +str/+vit I have on my lower level shield.

Is this just the way gear progresses at the higher levels or have I had bad timing with the AH?

EDIT: I have been able to find 1 or 2, but they tend to be prohibitively expensive. Seems like they're much more rare at a higher level.

[oOmpie]

Yeah, I think it's mainly caused by the fact that the player base narrows down when you proceed beyond the levels where the average "Lemme try out hardcore for a bit" players make it. And thus the item pool decreases.

Just keep at it. I've noticed that prices are dropping day by day, which may very well be caused by the drop rate changes, but also by more and more players making it further into the game. Or you'll just have to get lucky to find someone willing to part with their lvling weapon for a reasonable price