Item level compression in Heavensward?

[Ultimatecalibur]

From what I gather from that list, horizontal progression is either over powered gear or exactly the same as vertical, but crafted items instead. Is the point that most upgrades should come by somehow using old gear as base, applying some magic on it, and getting a shiny new piece of gear? How is that not vertical and making old gear obsolete when you finally get your new piece? I don't see how set bonuses or enchants have anything to do with either, as you can just apply them to both, and upgreadable Legendary weapon just screams vertical to me. Or am I just thinking too literally about the words?

Horizontal Gear Progression is where gear increases the amount of content you can do without increasing the Character's overall power to much. Currently there are three pieces of content that you might seek to have BiS for: FCoB, i80 PvP and Uncapped PvP. All three have different secondary stat needs and limits. By collecting more gear you can enhance your capabilities in each, but do not grow more powerful. One gear set will not rule them all. If new content was added that needed different gear, but that different gear does not overshadow existing gear then you have horizontal gear progression.