We all have issues with leveling and the gear we get. Here is my idea to change the game but not the grind. Devs, this is for you!
In the first 4 levels (normal - penitent) we should only get common, magic, and rare gear. We should also be able to add affixes, imprint aspects, as well as add jewels and runes. You can even put a level cap on the gems and runes we receive and use. This will allow us to get the feel of endgame play before we get into the torment levels.
Once in the torment levels we should no longer get any common, magic, or rare items. The damage output on the gear is now much higher which means we will have to grind to get the materials to upgrade all the new gear. Let’s be honest, once you have all ancestral legendary gear in all slots you’re not going to downgrade to a magic or rare piece of gear, so why even get them.
As far as gear that has stars, which we all are striving for, torment I&II should have the possibility of 1 star drops. This continues the grind. Once you reach torment III everything should have at least 1 star with a good possibility for 2 stars and a small possibility for 3 stars. This would start the grind all over again. Once in torment IV all gear should have at least 2 stars and NOW you get the chance at mythics as well as 4 star gear. I believe this will allow you to greatly increase drop rates without shortening the grind. When you couple this with the armory you get the chance to have multiple characters in the same season, if you’re willing and able to put the time in.
One of the biggest reasons for players to stop playing and move on to another game is that it gets stale. We can reach top level gear in torment I because the drop rates are so low on any gear with a star and mythics are much worse. Once the masterworking is done and you have all the jewels and runes you need, all you have left to do is grind for mythics, and that is a very boring and very long grind.
Now that I think about it, glyphs should also have a mid-tier boost as well. Right now the glyph reaches legendary at level 46 and then nothing else until level 100. Let’s put in another radius boost at maybe level 70-80? You can make this boost important for getting into torment IV.
In summary, you’re not taking away from the grind or the personal achievements of the game. You’re only layering the upgrades and forcing the players back into all the different content that is available.