There is no subtext relative to barb’s power level. As I said before, barbs are underperforming as solo DPS and need a buff.
The above observations about new items being used by barbs after patch 2.6.6 dropped is of interest to me. I stayed out of that discourse of debating barb item quality and knew that this debate would be moot post-patch 2.6.6 since everyone could see for themselves. These observations are early but for example FoT/Morticks being used by #8 barb is contrary to what was predicted by some.
Hopefully, this also answers ManoWar. It is not about cross class parity. Barbs are bad and need a buff. It simply is about which items are possible/might be incorporated into top tier barb builds.
P.S. I looked at this for all classes not just barbs.