It kind of seems like SE doesn't really know what they are doing. Originally, they basically handed out max ilvl gear to everyone who had enough common sense to run simplistic dungeons a few times a week. They decided players shouldn't be handed raid equivalent gear without raiding and came up with the sands and oils. Now, 2.3 comes out and we're back to having max ilvl gear handed out to everyone because hunts have introduced sands and oils to everyone willing to waste hours tagging mobs.

I feel like I'm always waiting for this game to become something it never will.