An easy fix for coloring armor:
Armorsmiths can change the color of any armor at anytime not just at the final stage of crafting. This keeps coloring armor exclusivelyto AS's and players do not need to buy new sets everytime they want a new color, just ask an AS to change it for you (for a fee of course
) when you want a different color. (With or without armor color kits is up for debat though.)