If the developers makes it possible to clear criterion with crafted gear, and players set the requirement to 15 item levels above that, it's not SE's fault.

If SE were to lower the minimum item level, the content would become too easy for those with level-cap gear (it already is). Lowering the level cap would only punish players with BiS gear, which makes no sense.

SE's real mistake here is not putting level-cap gear in normal Alliance Raids.