Quote Originally Posted by RedLolly View Post
As rad as some of those skill ideas are, the inevitable result would be having some of those skills become a requirement to do some such other content.

"Can't join our static if you don't have PotD raise" even though it's a wholly different skillset to beat PotD than it is to beat a savage raid.

That's actually why most of the rewards in the most difficult content is purely cosmetic. It's much healthier for the game and community to do that.
Basically this. I've played many of the same MMOs OP has along with some not mentioned, and it's far more healthy for the game and community if the gear you get from hardcore content doesn't lead to the same massive gear gap that existed in a lot of those older MMOs. And those now-optional pieces of content would become requirements to even attempt other content where those skills were deemed valuable.