So much rumor and speculation behind these theories, and yet they are being held on to as if they were fact. Khon, if I may use your post as an example? I will hide it so it doesn't take up much room:
[hide]@Khon:
Quoted for the complete truth.
Should say: "Quoted because I totally agree with your opinion and view."
@Khon:
We all know Luffy wasn't capable of winning against Lucci or Moria at his level, while they could beat him with some ease.
No, "we" don't. There are a good deal of people who firmly view this topic as the complete opposite. Luffy (Non-Gear) VS. Lucci (Non-Zoan) was a pretty close fight with Lucci taking the lead. Gear Luffy VS. Zoan Lucci was a pretty close fight with Luffy taking the lead until Lucci did his life return – taking the lead again, until Luffy had a fortunate victory after using every last ounce of his strength. Lucky? Not so much luck as it was determination and endurance that led to his win. In a rematch, who could say? It was a close fight. I would say Lucci was stronger and more capable, but the sheer improvement before and after on Luffy's part tells me Luffy would win in a rematch. As for Moria -- I will continue with him below.
@Khon:
Against Moria, Oda even had to pull the "Nightmare Luffy" idea, otherwise Luffy would have lost. Such things are unlikely to happen again. Luffy is beggining to understand he cant be lucky everytime.
Explain. I see no evidence to show that Luffy understands he is getting lucky. He was all sorts of confidence against both Lucci and Moria. "Nightmare Luffy" was only a way of defeating an invincible and immortal Zombie Giant with all the power and abilities that Luffy had. Afterwards, Luffy was able to take out Moria – even after Moria used his insane method of trying to buy time.
@Khon:
However, IF the gears do not get replaced by new tecniques, Oda will have to clearly explain why Luffy did not die or is not on the way to dying after using it so many times.
This is what I meant. This is completely based off of the view that Gears are "killing" or "destroying" Luffy's body. There are more than one way we can interpret what has been said regarding the Gears. I, for one, choose to believe that they overexert his body. By overexerting his body, he risks killing himself from exhaustion and pushing his body beyond what it can handle, even for a Rubber Man. If Luffy does not die in battle though, then there is no majorly permanent harm to worry about. (IE: Dying). I agree that something needs to change so that he isn't causing so much pain to his body, but I think the Gears are a perfect adaptation and usage of Luffy's Devil Fruit power. It is a completely unique way of fighting that can only be done by a Rubber Man, and taking that away would be a waste of great material. Improve it with something else…like say, Haki? Even better.
@Khon:
And no, it is NOT a question of Stamina.
Well, most of our information comes from Luffy's battle with Lucci. Lucci said that it was a matter of stamina I believe.
@Khon:
The technique is hazardous to Luffy no matter what kind of resistance he has. At the first fight with Lucci, he was just not used to it at all, yet. So it tired him pretty quickly. However, it's different from the damage it does to his body. It's like a drug… even if you use little of it every time, it'll never degradate in your body, but stay "around"... and the hazardous effects will be acumulated as much as you use it.
Again, this is completely based off of your view and interpretation of the side effects of Gears 2nd and 3rd. I will not deny that it there is a chance it is harming his body in a bad way, but I think that if anything Oda has been hinting at that so that Luffy will "upgrade" again while removing the side effects. Either way, nothing is conclusive.
@Khon:
So it must happen one of these three things.
Not must, "could be".
@Khon:
Luffy stop using gears.
Would seem like a huge waste of material and build-up to me.
@Khon:
Luffy learns "something" which may significantly reduce the hazard of the gears or completely erase it. (unlikely)
I personally think this is the most likely. Especially now that we know Haki can be used to amplify or strengthen or add power to items and abilities. (Possible examples: Rayleigh's kick and sword; Margaret's arrow)
@Khon:
Luffy keeps using it until the end of the series, get weaker and weaker, and dies at the end due to overdose (not so unreal as it may seem).
If the Gears are harming him, this is how I would imagine Luffy's dies. Happy, accomplished his dreams, is Pirate King, returned Shanks' hat, etc –- dies smiling like Gol D. Roger.[/hide]
@MagneticMonkey:
The gear techniques rely all on the rubber ability given by his DF. If he encounters someone that can negate DF abilities like Sentoumarou, BB or Rayleigh he must have another trump in his hand.
Keep in mind that "Haki" should not have the ability to "negate" Luffy's DF power; only bypass the DF's defense, focusing more on the ability to have an effect on the DF user, and not prevent them from using their powers. Blackbeard on the other hand can completely remove the ability to use and activate a DF; this would (in Luffy's case) only remove Luffy's rubber body defense, and some of his attack power. Rather than leaving him helpless like many DF users out there, Luffy would still be strong and extremely capable of fighting back. Not to mention he can use Soru. I agree though that he does need more, and I think Haki would be another great addition to his skillset that would allow him this.