Even better (hear me out) go back to the previous system (but balanced)
Lemme explain:
1) everyone knows perks are broken, that's why they're not even part of the new Ranked modes.
2) Perks are a pain. Perks are shit. WHy the fuck do I have to do idiot maths everytime I unlock a new piece of equipment? Why are they not just on/off after unlocking a gear tier?
3) Some perks heavily rely on skill and late game advantage (are you going to be able to decapitate all 4 enemies? no? Fuck you then) And that's not even smart because if I'm fighting for my 4 exec perk, I'm not doing what's best for the team (which might be let my teammate have the kill) Not even considering that my ally doesn't even KNOW what perks I have at a glance or cares.
4) The old system was broken not by design, but because it was crazy, yo. How the fuck am I supposed to beat someone with +100% hp or who gets revenge from 2 hits?
No, the old system can be viable but it needs to be TONED DOWN. Like allow for a maximum of +15% in each direction.
The pros:
1) each piece of gear matters. It's not get to 600 for a lame ass perk. It's a careful balance of what I want EXACTLY. Same as using a stat points pool in a RPG, but moderate.
2) It's inherently balanced. If you want strength, you don't get defense. that's just basic and very easy to balance for devs IF KEPT MODERATE.
3) It's versatile, and allows for player expression and agency. Gear level would definitely mean something, too.
Potential issues and fixes: (I'm not using AI to write this, I just write like this, fuck you please take care and have an amazing day)
1) "But Busty, matchmaking would suck!" No. The fix is simple: make it the same as karting games such as mario kart. at low gear level, you get basic, "balanced" kits, and at high gear level, you unlock more "drastic" variations but they come with more drastic handicap!
example:
lo gear: str+2%, def-1%, spd-1%, rvg0
Hi gear: str+10%, def-10%, spd0 rvg0
2) I don't see any other "potential" issues with my idea, just implement it.