And the jaded endgamers have reappeared again to rant about how high-level gear isn't exclusive to them and how they can't put "Armada Hauberk/Hagun/Ridill or GTFO" in the Raid Finder comments.

Tomestones are what they are, folks. A means for non-raiders to access gear to make content less difficult. You might not like the fact that it takes away any leverage you have as raiders, but FFXI showed team Yoshi that none of you can handle that leverage properly.