Please remove iLevel

[Rivienne]

Go go anecdotal evidence!
.....
Minimum gear level > Skill > BiS gear level

His anecdotal evidence is still more evidence then I ever hear from the other side of the argument. A valid counterpoint requires proof. He provides situational evidence, you provide a supposition that implies his evidence is in fact misinterpreted, yet provide no evidence of your own.

The real gear requirement is alway going to be this: the minimum required for all party members to succeed at all within the time limits. Nothing else. If that is what you are implying here, then I agree, but otherwise.....

In my experience the real minimum required gear level is a lot lower than most people think, probably because people equate speed with success. You can succeed in a lot of fights if you have the time. So if a dungeon gives you 90 minutes, and you need 89 minutes with everyones current gear, it is going to be a pretty tight run, but that is when skill triumphs. Pin point precision.

The only way to prove otherwise is to do some rough numbers, and then start testing with an entire skilled group. Pick a dungeon, and start using lower and lower gear, on everyone, until you can no longer beat it in the time limit.