I decided to test something.
Placing an augmentation with a recommended level on an item with no recommended level gives the item the augmentation's recommended level.
Example:
A FT1 AUG with a recommended level of 55 will put a recommended level of 55 on any item you attach it to. Having the aforementioned augmentation on an item as a level 35 character will get you FT1, yes. It will also kill the stats on the item you bonded it to.
Just thought I'd put that up here, for those that didn't know or were still wondering.