there are multiple ways in others MMO that way better than the too much random of 1.0 .
There is the passive buff system when you kill a mob and don't get a loot ( they did this in WoW for quest items )
There is the special currency systeme that come from wow too , even if you don't get loot you get currency so you can buy same quality gears a little like GC seals.
There is the new thing they added for MoP , you have 10 items / week that you can use after you killed a boss , if you want a loot from this boss you use it and it will give you an extra loot so that everyone can at least get 10 loot / week