i saw an iksar in full gnome stuff he looked HAWSOME i mean like... the only thing i can imagine loking better on an iksar would plate but they cant wear it:(
Just the other night, I was hunting in Kaesora with my 40th druid and looted a Mask of the 8 eyes off of some 35th lev mob. Low and behold, it has the exact same stats as a Burynai Hide Mask that my 11th lev monk looted off a Buyrnai Burrower in FOB. I was a bit pissed to see VI cop out like that. I mean, why bother?
The only differences between Gnome skin and split paw so far that I have seen are that 1) Gnome skin shows up as black leather, and 2) gnome skin gloves give +5 AGI as well. Personally I'd like a set of gnome skin for the visible pieces for my monkey, and cured silk for the non-visible parts (to save weight and all).