What do you mean with "basic crafted heavy leather"? Is that something that can actually be crafted currently (that is, beyond T1 and T2)?
I think Z is talking about the T1 splinted that Tanks can wear. It has Heavy Leather descriptors.
Precisely. It's not like the gear comes with strength or other tank stats, it's just slightly better armor rating than the vendor set but in any case if the class is able to wear an armor type you should be able to craft some of that armor type and use it. As it stands currently that isn't the case for no apparent reason.