I'd debate that the i180 gear is even mid-range, really. Given the relative ease of gearing up through Law/Hunts combined with weekly runs of i190 Alexander, the i180 gear isn't particularly useful even for that, at least with how restricted the supply of them will be thanks to the weekly gating and the high scarcity for the materials. When you also consider the need for materia melds for the gear to really make it worthwhile, it's value comes into question even further.

Personally, I think they would have done better to make the gear i190 but limit materia melds on them in some way, either by removing a secondary stat (as they had done with the crafted jewelry) or not allowing melds on them at all.