One or more forum posters have advocated the philosophy that an item isn’t perfect until after tempering because said item is “incomplete” until it is tempered. This is a form of “expectations management”.
I propose, Blizzard, that you could do more towards expectations management by adding placeholders to items for the future tempers. Not unlike the placeholders shown on the selection screen for crafting uniques. Obviously the small counter at the bottom of item “card” has been insufficient from a psychological / expectations management perspective. Placeholders in the proper place on the item card would be a much more visible reminder of the incompleteness of the item.