1. Actually the repair cost aint higher if you compare them per durability
2. You can always repair with runes
3. PvP doesn't take any durability
Any melee damage or attack will affect dura
There is a utility aspect to 15/15 non eth bases and a purely aesthetic aspect to preferring 0 dura to >15% dura
Similarly, even tho merc won't use dura just having every possible stat possible maxed adds some value, aesthetic not utility
not having dura on this wont change the value much, sure it may be worth a little more if it was 15/15 eth. Most buyers aren't really concerned about that.