Variance in player skill is hurting FFXIV's itemization design.

[Seraphix2407]

Now, if you want to argue that "equip higher item level and be done with gearing" is boring, we could have a discussion, because I would agree on that premise. Stat wise, the gear in this game is extremely boring. Stats beyond item level might as well not exist, because secondaries are too weak to have an impact (even if I meld only SS I don't feel any difference in casting speed) and with only 2 sets we don't have much choice in terms of "stacking fav stat" anyway..

You pretty much summed up how I feel, so no worries! The gap doesn't really need to be much higher than tomestone gear, what I mean is add something cool to the raid gear atleast.
Oh yeah tomestone capping do suck as well. If they gonna do that for the next expension, you and I know very well people gonna be tired of the same shit. Same thing different wrapping yeah?

This is why I made my initial post, to be honest. I'm just trying to puzzle out what people want - cooler gear with a variety of situational use, or a way for raiders to set themselves apart from everyone else in a manner that casuals cannot touch? To me, this game's selling point is that I don't have to spend boatloads of time grinding to stay relevant. If they suddenly changed that, I'd just go back to playing Blade and Soul, which operates under a similar philosophy but at least has characters with actual butts in it.

I get your point, raid alone is fun but the reward is not that great. It really isn't. So if raid gear does get better (not only ilvl up) but also form for bonus stats would be cool to have. So if you don't raid or can't raid you will get that gear eventually (if it appeals to you as glamour for alts), they always have nerf patches of that content. However by then the gear is kinda shit because of new ilvl again. Give raiders some cool stuff, because last time I checked, the forum was hoarding and going crazy about how chinese/japanese/korean people have exlusive items. It's not like it's a game breaker for casuals either no? Why would you need great gear for only doing dungeons?