The problem isn't that AF = bad, it's just the fact that people can't perform well enough with it. They need better gear to make-up for the lack of skill they have. Sure the better gear helps, but it only improves your performance at your current skill level. You can tell the difference even comparing people with top gear. The better play will always do more damage/healing/tanking. Where you can REALLY see the difference is when the better skilled players out perform better geared people with less gear. Iv'e seen it happen before.

I wish everyone would stop with "gear makes you good" attitude. It's a cop-out.