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Let me preface this by saying that:
A.) Going back to the old points system would probably be an even better approach.
B.) I'm pretty sure I suggested this in a thread a while back, so forgive me if this sounds familiar.

Currently, wargear is just... free. Which means you generally don't have a reason to field a laspistol when you could take a plasma pistol instead, nor do you have the option to keep squads cheap by passing on the bells and whistles. Below is a suggestion for how to add a little more nuance to the cost of squads and their wargear that still avoids model-by-model pricing. Basically, GW would be able to keep their easy math, but we regain some nuance in unit prices.

Basically, my proposal is that wargear options be lumped together into broad groups based on how potent they are and that these optional groups each have their own pricetags. So for example, devastators might look something like this:

Basic devastator squad including a sergeant and 4 marines all equipped with bolters: 75 points. (Or whatever devs cost these days.)
* Each devastator squad may purchase any of the following:
+75 points - Add 5 bolter marines to the squad.
+10 points - Swap out the sergeant's basic gear with the usual sergeant gubbinz.

* Each devastator squad may do one of the following:
+25 points - Up to 4 bolter marines may swap their bolters out for one of the crappier gun options.
+50 points - Up to 4 bolter marines may swap their bolters out for one of the better gun options. (I guess you could have this option also include the option to choose a crappier gun for the sake of people with mismatched guns in their collection.)

Intended end result:
Instead of paying points that always reflect the assumption you'll be fielding a decked out sergeant and 4 of the best guns possible, you instead pay points broadly reflecting what gear you opted to take. However, rather than calculating points on a model-by-model basis, you just have to add between 1 and 4 numbers together to get your total unit cost. So easier math than in the old days, but with some nuance compared to what we have now.

Theoretically, this would also let GW maintain some assumptions about how units of a given size are meant to behave. So for instance, dark eldar warriors currently have a sticky objectives rule. Maybe GW is worried about that rule being available on 5-man squads. They could write that upgrade option like this:

+50 points - Add 5 splinter rifle warriors to the unit, and the unit gains the Sticky Objectives rule.

That way, DE players regain the option to take smaller warrior squads, but they still have to invest in a 10-man squad if they want Sticky Objectives.

Seems reasonable.
I agree that just charging points like 30k does would be better, but your idea is better than the current points.

That gets into Devastator Squads with 0 guns being an option which is kind of pointless. I think you could simplify it even more by just saying if the unit includes 1 or more better gun options then it costs x extra points. That covers sponsons and hunter killer missiles as well, but doesn't get into the nitty gritty of 2 pt storm bolter vs 3 pt plasma pistol.

 vict0988 wrote:
That gets into Devastator Squads with 0 guns being an option which is kind of pointless. I think you could simplify it even more by just saying if the unit includes 1 or more better gun options then it costs x extra points. That covers sponsons and hunter killer missiles as well, but doesn't get into the nitty gritty of 2 pt storm bolter vs 3 pt plasma pistol.

Sure, you could do that. In the case of the devastators, you would just start 4 models off with a weapon from the "crappy guns" list, let them swap to a different crappy gun for 0 points, and raise the squad's starting cost by the cost of the crappy gun upgrade.

Giving extra weapons like sponsons and HKs to a vehicle would work much like the sergeant upgrades in the example above: Pay X points to gain access to A, B, or C sponsons and up to 1 HK.