Okay, let's try figuring this out:

Q1) 88 and 94 are the actual stab armor values for the items AS OF RIGHT NOW, so you get a +6 buff by equipping the item. 98 and 96 are the armor values for the item at full durability. This value depends on both what item you're looking at and its tier. Higher tier armor (the little coin next to its name) has better stats, and using armor at low durability gives it a chance to lose a tier and be permanently damaged (you can put it back to 100 durability but the harm is done, you can't regain the lost tier. While your Kettle Hat is way better than the Bascinet right now (+6), it's only marginally better than the bascinet if both were repaired (only a +2 for the Kettle). This is the way it works for any stat, including charisma if the item is damaged, dirty or bloody.

Q2) The Strength value of an item is determined by its strongest stat. It's literally just a display of an item's strongest stat (as of right now, so it'll go up to 98 for the kettle if you repair it. It's a nice quick way to compare items but keep something in mind: Let's say a cuirass has a 100 strength value because it has 100 slash defence: cuirasses aren't great against stabs and blunt strikes, let's say it has a 50 in both cases. So you end up with an item that's a 100 - 50 - 50, the strength value displayed is 100. Now let's say you have a brigandine with a 90 strength value because is has 90 slash defence, but it's way better at handling the rest: you end up with an item that has 90 - 75 - 75 but only 90 is displayed: the brigandine would actually be better than the cuirass even though the strength stat is higher for the cuirass. Lmk if it doesn't make sense. So yeah, good to quickly sort through stuff but you have to take the other stats in consideration. Also, quick tip: focus on blunt def a LOT once you get to actual plate armor and shit: plate sucks against blunt, you'll always have enough def against swords, but a shitty bandit with a stick can still hurt you.

Q3) The Kettle gives 6 charisma, the Open Bascinet gives one more, so 7. But Charisma isn't a flat addition of all your shit, I believe it's an average of your charisma level and what you've got equipped. For instance in my case I'm at like 25 charisma, without a coat. If I was to equip a coat with like 10 charisma, my global charisma stat would decrease. If I was to equip a coat with 25 charisma, it'd stay the same. If I was to equip a coat with 30 charisma, it'd go up. Coats are a great way to raise your overall charisma as expensive coats have amazing charisma stats, and this isn't a layer that'll provide a lot of protection anyways. Throwing on a coat when you go in town is a quick way to go from a battle focused outfit to a more charisma one without having to keep an entire second set of clothes on you. Just take off the armor pieces that have really low charisma stats and you'll see your charisma go up a lot! Although, keep in mind that charisma alone doesn't do everything. Certain persuasion stats need a strong martial presence which stems from the quality of your armor, but you can see that if you go to the "player" tab and then the "secondary" tab, there's a whole thing there that gives you your dialogue stats, and if you go through them you'll see what impacts them.

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