Don't use this passive aggressive stance on me. I know all to well you want these rewards purely to increase your epen's. IT has nothing to do with making it more rewarding and all about self gratification from insecurity or selfish greed. You may try to say its otherwise but seriously, you've done a poor job at hiding the agenda behind your request.
I gave an example that suited everyone. It rewards hardcore and casuals equally at a different rate. The only thing you've promoted is giving the higher skilled players stuff to make everyone less skilled look like newbies. The way you promote rewards is different then me. You think players who aren't as skilled shouldn't be capable of getting equipment equal to you even if it requires a very slow tedious path. This is an elitist jerk attitude that proves just how broken things would be if you got your wish.
It's not about the gear breaking balance it's about the gear disrupting the community. After all if we don't have that awesome HQ gear that the upper 5% have we're not worthy by your standards.