That argument would work better if you truly needed BIS gear for a particular level to be able to level to 50 or run level appropriate dungeons. You don't.
Also, for a healer, the Coliseum Shawl (Int 10/Vit 9/Mind 10/Crit 15/SS 15) vs the Harlequin's Acton (Mind 10/Vit 9/Piety 8) should be fine. For a caster, the Felt robe offers comparable stats (Int 10/vit 9/Mind 10/crit 15). Heck, for a healer it does. The loss of 15 spell speed doesn't leave you "gimp".