Items do have their uses. Like when you want to get to 50 prestige and you don't want to wait longer 
I got the 50 prestige fame with an item. The +8 Prestige
Brilliant Guard of the Dragonslayer.
What skill bonuses have you seen? I've only seen Oratory and Trading and now I've heard of Infiltration.
Top 40 Prestige Unique ItemsThe items on that list include bonuses to every single one of the skills.
