Small change to endgame to help.

[Yukiko]

You don't need the best gear if you don't do raids...

First of: he didnt say "free gear", but you are using nice polemic!
And ohh, wait: You are getting BiS from hardest raid uhm... yea, for what?
You dont need it if you already beaten the HARDEST raid, so i guess your argument fails there!

Edit:
What we have is a lack of mid game content and the learning curve (mostly gearlock) is way too high between content. From Ravana to AS1 its a BIG jump... there isnt anything inbetween!