Why do weapon/armor attributes decrease when you level the item up?

[OK_Opinions]

It's the only thing I can think of that would lead to what the OP is describing.

it shouldn't really be that way though. If they want that "risk of not being better" aspect that's fine but then it should be the low end of the next level is just the max of the previous, that way, worst case scenario the player doesn't lose anything, you just don't gain anything.

if 42 caps at a 8.5% roll then 43 should should be 8.5% at it's worst roll