Identify - can we change this archaic mechanism to something more useful than being a "UI tax"?

Keeping this one focused on the need for 'identify' scrolls.

When you play the campaign for the first 10-20 levels, I would say the use of identify scrolls are actually fun. Items are scarcer and because any new item found in the early game tends to make a bigger difference, the whole act of identifying a new drop is a lot more exciting.

However, after that point, the use of identify simply becomes a useless chore. I liken it to a door in the middle of a field and you're being told that you have to unlock, open, go through and close the door - when you could simply walk around it.

As a currency, much like the Portal scroll, they're useless. (How many identify scrolls would it take to exchange for 1 divine in POE1?)

We now have the "identify all" ability from NPCs now but this adds to the whole "UI tax". Having to TP in, run to the NPC, click on them, select the option, etc. It seems pointless. Before that in POE1, we had to identify each item, which again... mouse click + shift, then clicking each item to identify. This is one of those times when it was a bit easier on a controller to do.


I understand that for certain unique items, with respect to trade, there's a market for them as unidentified.


So a couple of thoughts:

1. remove the need to identify all NON-unique items.
It doesn't really add immersion past the early game.
Still maintain the "immersion" and fun aspect of identifying unique items.
It would really help with loot filers as well, allowing you to really highlight the ones you're looking for - based on the actual affixes.

2. or add something to this archaic mechanic...
Perhaps a "greater identify scroll" that is essentially a gamble. It costs a fair bit of gold, and can give you a chance of raising or lowering affix tiers. In true POE fashion, I'm sure you could make a whole system of identify out of it.

It could be done as a NPC "service" (like identify all), then it would be a way to remove gold from the economy.


But let's do something, either take it out (for non-uniques) or do something more interesting with it!