It seems like it would be awesome if smite wasn't required, as jungle items could be contested in lane, eg: do I waste my early game for a pretty decent jungle item for mid-late?
People have always told me that riot doesn't enforce the meta and all, but I think this stifles creative gameplay and strategy.
Jungle items being bought in lane has historically been REALLY problematic. If a jungle item can be bought in lane and not be trash, it's a bad thing, generally. This simply makes it a non-option (and also means that less people are delusional about jungling without Smite).
Jungle items being used in lane was the case back when jungle items were first introduced. They were made to be items that gave good stats while also helping in the jungle. Laners bought the items and took camps, or they just bought the items and forced them to be balanced to them instead of the junglers. Vlad had hand in getting the first Wraith Spirit nerfed, Elder Lizard got balanced to Nidalee and Ezreal, and Ancient Golem was balanced to bruisers in top lane instead of the jungle tanks who needed them. The items had to be nerfed to not be the only options laners had, and then they were kind of mediocre in the jungle. Making them jungle-only has been the solution.
As for tying them to smite, that was done because taking smite is pretty much always the better option. I know other things are technically possible, but the loss of objective control pretty much always makes it a worse option. The option serves as a trap for newer players.
You need smite for the jungle item actives.
Riot is basically saying "Don't waste your money"
It done as a safeguard against noob traps and keeps the jungling items restricted to a smaller audience.
Like that one idiot that thought it was a good idea to pick up 
on 
.
If you don't have smite, the jungle items are not cost efficient.
For example, the Magus enchantment is considerably weaker than 
at approximately the same price.
Yeah the new jungle items give special abilities when smiting jungle camps so there's really no reason for people to try and take them in lane. Previous jungle items were alright in lane but they too had their little bonus (gold) cut back unless used in the jungle. SO overall, jungle items are MEANT for the JUNGLE and should stay there.
I have seen non-jungles (well, supports so far) take smite, and build into to one of the champion fighting smites, so one can still try some creative builds. Perhaps too early to conclude that it's a good build, but taking smite even if you don't want to jungle is still an option, which in turn allows for those jungle items if you really want them (although it seems to me you'd be paying for features you don't care about by doing so if you're not actually jungling).
so riot is forcing us what to buy now..?
This is something that persists for reasons that make no sense. Smite is necessary on your team for objective control. The people that jungle without it are dooming your team in any ranking above Silver, because the enemy jungler WILL take your buffs, Dragon, Baron, etc. You can get away with it in low ranking, but that's only because people don't know how to capitalize on your mistake.
More effective in 95% of cases, sure. But again, taking ignite/exhaust over smite (which I've done in much higher elos than silver), gives you more kill pressure, and if your nunu you can do just fine.
Let's be honest tho, I dont think riot peeps were in a meeting and said "hey, screw those nunu mains and those guys who play jg without smite, lets make it mandatory." I'm trying to find their reason.
Thanks for the replies. Looks like I won't ever be asking questions on this forum again. Ask a question or raise a concern, your thread gets downvoted.
