It feels less like Wonderous Objects to me than market items. You could go shopping a the market-pool in Laketown to get items that increased a single skill. That sounds like you get some boosts to skills based on your Standard of Living. Interesting way to start a new character.
You may be right. I wonder if all cultures will have the same items to choose from, or if each culture will have their own lists? Either way, this already an improvement on Standard of Living from 1e. My group all but ignores the current Standard of Living rules because it's more trouble to figure out how to apply them than to just keep the game session flowing.
"Of all the terrors that came ever into Beleriand ere Angband’s fall the madness of Carcharoth was the most dreadful; for the power of the Silmaril was hidden within him."
- The Silmarillion