The Formula won't change

[Voidmage]

Incorrect answer.

If the gear is the main motivator for doing this, there is nothing keeping you from unsubbing and returning when there is an echo and the tier is unlocked.

The main motivator is the fun and enjoying to the fullest what the new expansion/add-on has to offer.

Side note, you can already complete every piece of content out there with just the crafted gear that has been available and needs no tome farming nonsense. (well it does need some tomes but not near to what you need in order to be BiS)

They are correct though.
The Tomestone cap is pure stretching of content same as the weekly raid lockout. Every Raider will tell you this.
It’s just there to have you subscribed longer because no matter what you say people WANT the tomestone gear even if they don’t do the harder content amd the devs WANT you to be subscribed as long as possible.
The normal playerbase gears up slowly without stress but they absolutely do gear up without spending ingame money for crafted gear.
It’s the same as the system in gacha games, just there keep you from completing everything too fast.

Money is the answer.