Actually by the time I left SWTOR you where practically required to make a customized outfit to properly min/max your player. The best default endgame gear had subpar stats, making them little more then something to harvest mod parts from and place in your custom costume.
Don't think I'd want the SWTOR vanity system, as it was a bit clunky and currency sink heavy. But I would love a system as flexible as it became. FF14 has completely fallen behind the times with vanity pushed 6 months post release and total overkill dye restrictions.