[Durahansolo]

I think part of the reason the gear helps what you get is more that rarer items are more likely to break your tools, so reducing the chance of breakage generally means you get more good stuff.

I like your theory, because it is true that alot of times without gear i usually broke my hatchet once or twice before getting the elm log. So in a way the gear lowers breaks and also since it negates some of the breaks between rarer items and enables you a better chance snagging one. And Lyonheart's theory as well since pickaxes are used in both mining and excavating, it may been seen as pretty much the same thing by the armor.