Are FATEs going to be that one thing that everyone tries to blame for their problems? Welcome to being a damage dealing class in an MMO. We're a dime a dozen so duty finder waits are going to be long and it can be difficult to get into parties because there's so much competition. FATEs have little, if anything, to do with your plight.

If anything it's because low level dungeons aren't really worth doing more than the one time the story requires. Gear is too quickly replaced on the way to 50 for most people to bother repeating something unless there's an item they really want for whatever reason.