Originally Posted by Krellian

What many fail to consider is that gear is a means to an end. For example, two players have equal gear, one has a 1450 rating, the other has 2.2k rating. Gear clearly did not matter. The low rated player is happy, he has gear to play with, the high rated player is happy, he has ratings most cannot achieve, blizzard is happy because both pay a monthly fee.

Stop worrying about good/bad players with gear, your rating is your 'bragging' right. (or title). Despite any gear a bad player has/bought, he can never legitamaly achieve your rank. Just like from the PVE side of it, blizzard has implemented certain titles/rings etc. that only actually good guilds can get, despite any guild can get into that content. It keeps both sides happy and blizzard wealthy.