Swing timer reset + lost melee uptime + no procs from enspells due to not meleeing + no TP building due to no meleeing are part of the reason we are behind. Our nukes being completely separate from our melee model is also part of that, though that's a discussion for another day.
Yes, lack of melee gear is also part of it. Lack of dual wield as well (though I've yet to device a way to justify RDM ever getting dual wield).
Not sure why you're downplaying the spellcast load, though. All I'm saying is that while it would be nice, we do already have a number of things to cast on ourselves, and those should be made easier to set up or upkeep before we want to add any spells. The alternative would be, as mentioned in my previous post, to add something by way of job traits or job abilities to RDM.