Item level compression in Heavensward?

[Dervy]

I just want to avoid being ilvl 200 by this time next year. Whatever they can do to alleviate that, like adding in horizontal item progress, would be very nice.

You're telling me you wouldn't want your ilvl to be over 9000?!

In a serious note, you have to understand what type of game this is. It's a Themepark MMO. They may add forms of horizontal progression, but at the end of the day, the games foundations are based upon vertical progression and this is evident as they've confirmed they're adding a token based system for the next set of raids in Heavensward. Token system = gear progression = vertical progression.

They can incorporate elements of Horizontal Progression along side the Vertical Progression, but don't get your hopes up. You'll end up regretting it and cry into your pillow.