I agree that they should put their points into STA. STR is easy to cap in Velious even without BiS gear or a Primal.
https://wiki.project1999.com/Spider_Fur_Collar +07 STR
https://wiki.project1999.com/Haze_Panther_Skullcap +10 STR
https://wiki.project1999.com/Dark_Scale_Sleeves +10 STR
https://wiki.project1999.com/Gauntlets_of_Potence +15 STR
https://wiki.project1999.com/Thick_Banded_Belt +15 STR
https://wiki.project1999.com/Tribal_War_Mask +07 STR
https://wiki.project1999.com/Mithril_Greaves +07 STR
https://wiki.project1999.com/Haze_Panther_Boots +08 STR
https://wiki.project1999.com/Haze_Panther_Shoulderpads +07 STR
https://wiki.project1999.com/Silver_Chitin_Wristband +14 STR for 2x
With these items, which are all purchasable in EC, you can get +100 STR on your gnome. You still have room for CoF and Fungi. With 160 STR you will be capped at 255 with Maniacal Strength + FoS. You get a total of 135 STR from those two buffs, so you will be 40 STR over what these items give you, which means you still have flexibility on gear I showed above, and I didn't even provide an item for all slots.