But for many people it isnt pointless though. I know people who are happy to continue with the relic quest because not only do they enjoy the grind, they also know that they are perhaps unable to obtain any better. The situation you described in EQ is still very much present in this game too for may people.

I for one am enjoying the grind to get all classes up to 50. But I am under no illusion. The relics are probably the best I am likely to get, save for 1 or two classes, simply because I can not physically put the time in to gear them all to the same level. So my option is to do the relics instead. My option, because as Yoshi P said, it is optional - for as long a I stay subbed I have as long as I need to do it, which could be 2 years for all I care. It does not matter to me because I am not racing anybody to the top of anywhere.