So whose ready to remove ranks?

[Alahra]

The lesser gear would be pointless it'd still level sync everything unless we were talking wolves' den.

It wouldn't be pointless. It wouldn't have accuracy (most PvP gear is Crit/Det weighted), and Morale pushes the item level higher than the level sync. While you can collect other gear in PvE that won't have accuracy and cobble together a decent set, it's not as satisfying in terms of a reward structure. If there was starter gear, there'd be something to keep you going (and given how you end up swamped with Marks long before you're anywhere near getting your Rank 46+ stuff, it would certainly "feel" good to be able to spend it on something you can actually use).