Turns out I misread the anomaly investigation cap for the anomaly research level cap. I'm currently at level 81 and I have no idea if this thing just keeps going to 999. Haven't really touched qurious crafting for armor cause I don't to sink in mats into I understand it better. Qurious crafting for weapons is pretty similar to Iceborne though and it's somewhat expensive. Still the potential gains from some weapons is pretty huge. I've held off on using Switch Axe in Sunbreak but now that a lot more of them can have a level 3 deco I might finally start making some sets.
Antique Machina HB going from level 1 deco slot to level 2 slot was around a 10% boost for me cause I was able to slot in Teo Soul with the bigger slot. Same exact skills as an older screenshot I posted except for that deco.