Customizing/Changing Shikai

This idea spawned from a discussion about new "Shikai" ideas. The intent of this idea is to provide an idea for "Shikai" to be customized; i.e., the price of changing which “Shikai” is assigned to you (form and type).
This begins after the current method for "Shikai" is obtained (namely, naming your zanpakutou).
For the sake of this topic, "Shikai" is as follows:
Name (of weapon); Element (if applicable); Form (Shape of weapon); Function (Type/what the release does).
e.g., Kemuri no Fenikkusu; Smoke; Ninjatou; Illusion;;
Suisemaru; Water; Wakizashi; Kidou;;

Now, think of this as a recipe. You need certain ingredients -in this case, items- to bake the cake, so to speak.
These items are "Elemental Essences", "Molds", and "Functional Essences", and will most likely be dropped items (However, if that seems too conventional, it can be made into a special forest event, but because of the sheer amount of items I've come up with, that seems unlikely).

There are seven different Elemental Essences, and you will need three to complete the first stage of customization.
Elemental Essences:
Fire
Water
Air
Earth
Lightning
Blade (Metal)
Void (used as filler for practical purposes)

The idea is to find the three you need to get your ideal element, if you choose to have one. They can be combined multiple ways (and in any order) to get a specific compound.
Combos:
Smoke= Fire, Air, Void
Ash = Fire, Earth, Water
Snow = Water, Air, Void
Ice = Blade, Water, Air
Poison= Earth, Water, Void
Sound= Lightning, Air, Blade
Rain = Water (x2), Wind
Blade-projectile (non-elemental type) Blade (x2), Air
Blade-extension (non-elemental) = Blade, Void (x2)
Rock = Earth (x3)
Fire = Fire (x3)
Wind = Air (x3)
Lightning = Lightning (x3)
Water = Water (x3)
Blade-normal (non-elemental, non-projectile type) = Blade (x3)

Once you have the Elemental Essences you need, you'll need a way to combine them and mold them into your shape of choice. This is where the molds come in; you can mix your elements together and they will take the shape of whichever mold you choose to use.
Molds:
*This is not a complete list!*
Dagger
Ninjatou
Wakizashi
Katana
Broadsword
Spear/Naginata
“Extension”
Mace

Now, all you need is a specific function, meaning, "What does your zanpakutou actually do?". This is probably the second-most important part of your zanpakutou -the first would be the name. There are quite a few different types, and to make things easier, I've tried generalizing them into like categories and I've offered a small explanation on some, as they might seem confusing.
Function:
Kidou
Destruction--self-promoting (slight increase in overall potential ((Think Ikkaku?)), heal self, etc.)
Destruction--self-defeating (increase one stat & decrease another, etc.)
Destruction--to other (drain health, multihit, etc.)
Illusion
Projectile
Power (melee)
Power (defense)

There will be a limit involved- no more than four of an Elemental Essence in your inventory, and only one Mold and one Essence of Function; this is to promote either buying and selling or the trade idea (which will be explained shortly).
There are two options for obtaining/exchanging like items: Buy and sell directly with the Merchant or offering up an item for trade with another player via the merchant. Like items will be traded for like items, i.e., no trading a common elemental essence for a functional essence of Illusion.
Buying and selling is very straightforward and more than likely too easy, which is why the trading between players (via the merchant) seems like a good idea.
There are rules for this to work, however; we don’t want accounts being created just so you can get your ideal Shikai.
First, the player must have obtained Shikai as it stands now to find the items required. Second, it is a one-to-one ratio of like items; no trading Elements for Molds.
There will be a waitlist; the item won’t be made available to you until someone else has offered it up. It will also be anonymous and unseen; you will not be able to know your position on the list or how long you’ll have to wait.
You will be allowed only one item up for trade at a time. This is to prevent an instant-obtainment or a sudden shipment of the items you need. And who knows? maybe you’ll get the essence you’re looking for by the time the trade happens....
Trades can be cancelled- for a fee, of course; the middle man does need payment, even if the trade is cancelled ((75% of the normal fee to be paid upon receiving the item)). A mistake will count as a cancellation!
Like all middle men, our middle man requires a certain fee for the trade, 25% to be paid upfront… expenses and all, you know.
**Note: Prices will not be determined unless this idea takes hold; if that happens, they are subject to be changed at Neji’s discretion.**
Quick example: If the fee is set at 1000 gold, you would pay 250 upfront, the remaining 750 pieces when the trade is completed or 563 pieces if you cancel the trade. (I only chose 1000 for the simplicity of the percentages, which is not my area of skill; if it’s wrong, feel free to correct!).
And, just to make things interesting, there could be a chance that the middle man will get you the wrong item…I’m thinking a seventeen percent, but that’s because I’m currently obsessed with that number.

That's all for now; this has the ability to be revised many times, as all ideas do, so don't be shy. Criticism is welcomed.
Please please please, if you see a flaw (e.g., trading with multicharacters-- which was tried to be kept to a minimum), show it and offer a way to change it.