Actually it's fairly simple SOE has recently added a recommened level for alot of gear it's to reduce it's value as a twinking gear. If you have a character that's say 45+ and you give it to them you get the full stats. However if you gave it to a level one toon it would only give 1 for each stat. As your toon progressed through levels the amount of the stats you get from it increases until you hit 45 where it caps at the stats shown. I hope that clears it up for you.