I don't think players should be getting "special rewards" or "special markers" for clearing content when they cleared it. Nor should players who use the Echo buff be somehow marked differently for clearing that content.
That will only serve to segregate the already fragile community. The last thing we need is more epeen in this community.

As far as horizontal progression is concerned, I'm not against it so as long as it is implemented in a way that doesn't involve XI's stupidity and side grades.

On a side note, the name blame with the casuals is getting pretty old. It feels like I can't read a single thread on these forums without some "le uber" player getting their panties in a bunch over casuals. Sounds to me like the problem does not lie with the casuals but with the QQing le uber hardcore 1337z player of awesome