Had to read through to understand what you're trying to get at but if it's more individualism then i agree. Granted through gear would be difficult. I would throw out the idea to implement skill points in certain powers much like they tried with novus weapons but to the skills themselves. I'm guessing more or less like they did with scrolls in wow. Giving each player three slots to increase individual powers like protect - giving an increase in hp if up, or regen lasting a few more ticks ot higher crit chance, giving an increased enmity bonus to provoke or even a slightly lower cd. Giving the players a chance to decide where to put the skills at.

this wouldn't so much give the players a BiS for skill sets but rather tend to the gameplay style of each individual and how they use their rotations. This possible scenario wouldn't really change a lot of class constructs but give each their own in terms of the way they like playing their class