A rod of Empower Spell at high levels

[Hypersmurf]

Item creation is different for obvious reasons. It's not the spell level, but the total spell effect, which the price is based upon.

It's not just the price, though, it's the level limit.

Maximized Cure Light Wounds might be a 1st level spell priced as a 4th level spell, but even at that price, you can't put it in a potion (limited to spells of 1st to 3rd level).

Maximized Scorching Ray might be a 2nd level spell priced as a 5th level spell, but even at that price, you can't put it in a wand (limited to spells of 1st to 4th level).

What's the difference between the level limit on the spell that can be placed in a potion, and the level limit on the spell that can be affected by a Lesser Rod?

-Hyp.