I am levelling an alt right now, and there are a few changes that have been made in main story quest rewards. You start to get the i110 gear from patch 2.2 storyline iirc. which means you dont have that much to go until you get better gear.

2.1 storyquests rewarded darklight accessories iirc.

So not that far to go until you get better things than your i45 gear .