Here's a novel idea. Do not introduce hard item level requirements. Instead do two other things:
1. Match players with others of similar item level (capped to the sync level)
2. If item level is well below a recommended value for the dungeon, issue a warning that the dungeon may be harder than expected

This should hopefully reduce carrying due to out-of-date gear, because players that would need to be carried will be matched with others that can't carry them. It might also better drive home the point of why you need better gear.

Quote Originally Posted by Brightamethyst View Post
The one drawback I see to this is that it would let you cheat at roulette. Take off all your gear before queuing, forcing your way into a quick copperbell rather than risking a higher level slog. (This already works in the other roulettes. Drop your ilevel to 100 and trial/alliance/50/60 roulette will put you in a level 50 every time.)
Is that really such a big issue? I don't recall Copperbell Mines or any of the other early dungeons being particularly fast. If anything they have more trash mobs with little or no AoE abilities to clear them quickly. Also Copperbell's two first bosses are such snoozefests that they make the dungeon feel longer than it is.