Right now Crafters are the ones with access to alternate ilvl 70 armor sets.

HQ version of crafted ilvl 70 are equal to DL set in stats and can be stronger because crafted ilvl 70 sets can also be melded.

2.2 will introduce new crafts and due to ilvl 70 no longer being starter endgame level gear anymore they may introduce higher ilvl crafts.

Yes it does require more work than DL sets to get crafted HQ ilvl 70 gears but they are certainly better once you slap materia on them.