It is a pure shame that the elitest argument always semms to rear its ugly head in online video games.

However, there is but one simple way to explain it.

Gear is simply not every thing and is not what always determines the fate of a fight. It does however make good players great and great players perfectionists. The great players tend to not need a hand up, where the good players need all the help they can get.

Gear score, item level, what ever you want to call it these days is not the end all be all that defines us or the outcome of a battle ingame, it is merely a way to determine someones dedication and time spent playing. The rest boils down to brain power, understanding a fight, the ability to adapt to "oh ^&%$" moments and the countless amount of other variables that always seem to plague us in this industry, BSoD's, lag, loss of connection, distractions etc etc.

At the end of the day, it boils down to what you are happy with and can it be done with a monumental amount of effort, after all, what feels better for you, trivializing a fight or being the under dog and rising to victory? I tend to choose the later, as I prefer my time spent playing feel some what rewarding, even if the virtual experience of it all is some what, pointless.

One last thing, just remember, on the other end of that screen is not a player, but a person. A little common courtesy can go a long way in to grooming someone to becoming that next perfectionist.