I'd like to go into a GG lab and build a custom golem creature, making selections of stats that have trade-offs, attack vs defense, stronger young vs able to advance more, etc.

I support this idea and would gladly provide anything in my possession for this purpose - for free.

Spoiler

Of course I hope many failed experiments will come before a successful one...

 

weapon shards can be like this process, except that adding them before recruitment isn't the option 

What if the creature was recruited and then shards added, so you make the "core" and then shards add the rest?

2 minutes ago, Chewett said:

What if the creature was recruited and then shards added, so you make the "core" and then shards add the rest?

The core would have to be pretty weak and miserable compared to normal creatures.  The shard options would then bring it comparable, but exotically different.

I like the idea of using shards to customize the creature. Maybe you can give it one of your weapons to specialize it into either attack, defense, power etc.

4 hours ago, Chewett said:

What if the creature was recruited and then shards added, so you make the "core" and then shards add the rest?

I like Chew's and Invie's ideas but please keep some room for unwanted results.

For example: if the core golem creature was a (weaker) aramor, and I add knator shards to enhance its attack, I would either obtain an optimized creature or an aborted experiment (still usable in combat but with ridiculous/negative stats).