Though it is a neccesary effect, it doesn't feel like a 18th level feat to me. It being integrated into Implement Mastery would make more sense, so you could have a implement on each stage naturally and would liven build options up a lot later on.
A good substitute for it could be a feat chain consisting of a feat that gives you an extra level 1 implement at level 16, followed by a level 18 feat that makes all your implements level 2, followed by a capstone that makes all your Implements level 3.