Jobs are still very new, and SE is still working on defining the balance between Jobs and Classes. One of the things they said they'd do to help define them is start releasing Class and Job specific gear that were different in their focus. This is the first wave of Class specific gear.

Honestly, though, I don't see the need for all this fuss. If Jobs can have specific gear, I see no reason why Classes can't. SE is clearly determined to keep this system, so we might as well embrace it and see where they take it in the future.