Brainer advancement clarification

Can someone clarify what this brainer advancement means?
Get 2 new or replacement brainer gear (you choose)

Specifically -- can the brainer keep her current gear and get 2 new ones on top of it? (I know it literally says yes, but I had thought I saw somewhere that the brainer has to exchange old gear for new).

Yes, getting 2 additional pieces of brainer gear in addition to what you started with is fine.

Additionally, if the brainer is a bit more colored in by that point, my players have always requested custom stuff. Seems like a good opportunity to consider it.