Variance in player skill is hurting FFXIV's itemization design.

[RobbieH]

If raiders can clear raid, then they don't need the gear either.

The only raiders that can clear raids with crafted gear or the tier bellow are the pros, semi-core will have trouble, mid-cores would need the gear to clear it so yes raiders need the gear, and since SE decided to go with DPS checks more than ever with Alex instead of punishing mechanics like A8S it's another plus for needing gear.

EDIT: SE should add challenges to raids (similar to what FFLogs is doing here), and with it achievements which would award thing such as mounts and glamours, as an incentive to do those challenges.