Gearing is not easier than how it was in 2.0. Sure, when you still have quests to do you get a lot of HQ gear to pick from, but when those are gone you only have your DoH to gear you up and mats are MUCH harder/annoying to come by in HW. It was far easier for me to gear up all my jobs through gathering/crafting in 2.0 than it is in HW, otherwise that wouldn't be my main complaint.

Retainers don't help with unspoiled node materials either.