It's a pain changing what you have equiped.  It's a pain for players because they have to make a request every time they want to change what they've equipped, and it'd a pain for admins because they have to mess about with character sheets every time they want to change what people are using.

So why not change how equipping works?  Instead of having four items constantly equipped, why not have equipped items be chosen during a battle.  For instance, at the start of the battle I would write:
Items:
Steel Sword
Blaster
Weighted Clothing
Biosuit

As an example.  But then in a spar I was in simultaneously I would write:
Items:
Steel Sword
Blaster
Bo Staff
Summoners Robes

It's not a big change or anything, but it would make the equipping process a lot simpler, and would save time for players and staff.