So Suho instead relying on his shadows to attack all alone he buffs everyone around him with gears and fight together. So this isn't Solo Leveling anymore more Party Leveling.
If everyone that is equipped with his gear give all exp to him then he can become a total monster. He can be pooping in the toilet and then say something like: Oh! I got level up! Someone must have killed a big guy...
About shadow soldiers that get converted to gear being unable to return to their form I bet he will use that on mobs located on battle. All elite soldiers he may possess he wont convert them unless the soldier says so in a dire situation where his only survival was to lose one faithful soldier to become extremely stronger with that gear and defeat it.
I am also glad to see Cha being safe. I was fearing she got possessed but seems isn't the case. She is with Kaisel so she must be searching something.