as much as i think people who make a big deal about ilvl are silly. and as much as i think the concept itself is silly. i am kinda glad something has been put in place to at least kind of deter way under-geared people from trying to join in stuff out of their league. im sorry, but there are a few situations where without the proper gear you will be a burden on your pt. the most obvious example is titan HM. all the skill in the world doesnt mean jack if you dont have a enough hp's to survive p5 stomps or cant put out the dps even with a flawless rotation to drop the heart. in short, ill just reiterate what others have said.

gear will not make a bad player good, but it will make a good player better