I've had a hard time trying to re-gear myself. I'm just about half-done only, still a lot of stuff to change/replace/adjust. But I am totally fine with that.
I think requirement to wear new equipment just sounds reasonable. Before, I could wear rank 30~ gear on my rank 20~ craft classes and still do fine because I got stats that were scaled down GENEROUSLY. Now it's not generous, but it makes sense and it's not too hard to deal with.

Also, like Alkoun pointed out, level 50 CNJ being able to wear same heavy armor as level 50 GLA would be ridiculous and doesn't make sense.