We can only hope, but it seems that they may a have won a bit this time around.

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...=1#post1232837


Quote Originally Posted by Camate View Post
Addition of item level requirements for high-level dungeon participation
We'll be adding a requirement to participate in high-level dungeons and hard mode primal battles that will make it so you need to have equipment above a certain item level equipped to participate. To coincide with this, we will be implementing a system that will display the average item level for your gear in the character window.
Not that #2 is horrible or anything, but it might further drive the elitism to a higher lvl...