The pain of new gear not being better than previous would be much lower if it there were some horizontal progression gear. This way it would give players more incentive to get another item with same or lower ilvl, as long as it had a special effects. Even for collecting, so that it "may come in handy" in battle, not just vanity, which wont be in 2.1 anyway.

The horizontal progression could be realized by making certain items or sets give player additional "traits" or "skills", for the price of some secondary stats on item. Gear change in combat is already disabled, so there wont be gear-per-attack.

The traits can give bonuses to particular skill or alter how some works. Like make a dot do damage over shorter period of time.

Maybe with voice of community being strong enough it will be someday soon realized.