Yoshi has made it quite clear he is try to make a game where a person can play anyway he likes in FF14.
If I want to make an awesome weapon, I can.
If I want to raid and take a monster's awesome weapon, I can.
If I want to solo grind to get my gear, I can.
If I want to join a group to grind/raid for gear, I can.
and the list goes on.
But, why should raiders be THE ONLY people entitled to good gear? Maybe someone just doesn't like that particular raid and doesn't find it to be fun. That makes him not worthy of nice gear? What if someone happens to enjoys the other aspects of the game that are not raiding more? Since they don't like raiding, they should never get nice gear?
What about the DoL and DoH now?
SE does not support botting and IT IS CHEATING. I know there are botters, but we cannot balance a game for cheating.
Anyways, is it fair that crafted gear should always be worse than the 'raid' gear? That makes the crafter, which is its own CLASS, a little less worth while. Why shouldn't a craft be able to put hard work and effort into making wonderful weapons with materia. Heck, I'm leveling my goldsmith just so I can have the pride of making my own super weapon.
Lastly, the current r45 'raid', the gear was made prior to the materia system and new crafting systems. How about we wait to see the new raids and new gear drops before we panic. Besides, all gear will be 'worthless' given a long enough time line.