Essence reaver has 10% life steal, and BT has 20% life steal.
I understand that BT is more the premier life steal item, but at least up reaver to 15% LS even if it means dropping the 10% CDR. It's just not as useful as BT because of the low LS value imo, and I'm sure many others think so too. I just feel like it would be so much better if the LS value was upped even just a bit.
it has 10 pct cdr while bt doesnt
it has mana regen on AA while bt doesnt
i think the trades offs are fine.
the CDR makes more sense thematicly with essence reaver as its a niche pick for AD champs with abilities that apply on-hit , or AA steroids that are mana intensive. AKA cast heavy AD champs AKA CDR PLZ
i wouldnt mind seeing the LS go to 12, but anything more than that would just be OP.
if you want more sustain and dont want to buy more than one LS item and it needs to be essence reaver then get LS quints
id prefer it to build out of a pickax again and the price get lowered.
The life steal difference I absolutely gigantic and I find BT to be way more useful on the "niche picks" than essence reaver simply because essence reaver has next to no sustain. I don't find any other spot in my builds to harbor more LS than Essence reaver if I want to make full use of the thing. If I go a different build path, then there is next to no point in even buying it because there are better purchases. For people like Graves/Ashe who might want the additional AD on their abilities and mana, I go for a build path fitting them with essence reaver if my team comp is right.
or 
I find myself wanting more LS than I want that 10% CDR even on champs who want high CDR. If anything I want the LS to be buffed to 12% and keeping the 10% CDR. 10% LS just does not seem like enough out of the item.
