The pattern is the boots - Of Pugs and Patterns
After deep contemplation, and a gentle "thanks but no thanks" bail out of a PUG-seat filler for another guild, I've come to a couple of conclusions. Here I'll present them to the community writ large for consideration.
1 - The Pattern IS the boots
Unlike the craftable belts in Phase 2, there is little reason to treat belt patterns differently than any other BoP item. A single pattern does not create additional item availability for a guild. Guilds should not HR them and PUG players should not go freely into taxation without representation. These items are BIS for most classes and specs. They do not require Nether Vortices. The pattern IS the boots. That the patterns are tradeable on the Auction House is merely a tacit GDKP tangential, not the entire plot.
2 - Nether Vortexes have value. Each player contributes an important part of the whole toward a raid's success. Although it is true that you cannot solo a 25man raid, AND it is true that Vortexes add more early phase value to tank weapons in particular, the value is reciprocal between PUG players and guilds. If you're not loot council for all items in the raid, Vortex should not be an exception.
3 - Belts are best in guild! A belt recipe requires a steady supply of Nether Vortex (not tradeable or soloable). The maximum joy for the maximim people (utilitarian) involves crafters crafting more belts for fewer GP. This implies that BELT recipes being HR within a guild makes a lot of sense. They aren't a get rich flip scheme because of the Vortex requirement and it is reasonable to hold them.
4 - Your lockout has value!! Don't be willing to subject yourself to crazy loot rules. There will be more opportunities to raid and we are only as strong as our weakest character.
5 - While we're at it - what's the deal with greeding on items that would be rude to need on?? Why does Dreamscythe have a culture of greeding on e.g. the elemental primals from H SH? If it would be a dick move not to greed on something, the cleaner and more straightforward solution is for everyone to always need.
Here ends my treatise.
Good luck on Ashes!!!