Colored gear with specific classes.

[Betelgeuzah]

No, people wanted class uniqueness in the form of their role and skills.

So, for the sake of your argument, "Gear" is going to a dumpster now? Even though many did express their dissatisfaction with the fact there was no such thing as class-specific AF in this game to make them stand out from each other... aesthetically. It is one factor among the umbrella of factors that lead the classes to lack uniqueness, but you are not doing yourself any favors by outright denying a significant factor in the issue as a whole.

Because the gear itself should determine what class wears it, not the color of the gear.

You are not even defining the word "gear" in the context you are using it, simply denying that "gear color" has anything to do with it (even though it is a irreplaceable part of "gear"). Either way, Paladins can wear black AF and red mages can wear blue, it shouldn't be so strict!

Model yes, color no. As stated above, color should have no bearing on the actual function of a certain piece of equipment. Just because I painted it red generally doesn't/shouldn't mean that it is now functionally better.

If it distinguishes classes from one another, yes it should.
It's a fantasy game dude. Those are magical dyes. But if they made them look like runes then suddenly, it all makes sense! Even though runes are just black paint on a piece of gear. That shouldn't make it functionally better! But it's a fantasy game, so it does.