the issue isnt the gear disparity and never was.
the issue is equal skill with a gear disparity.
like for example… you arent gonna lose to a AWC guy because he has gear, you lose cause he is AWC competitor and you are a 1600 player. The problem is the system encourages much better players to play down in order to make money. effectively blocking normal players.
Then those players who get carried to 1800 now have a large advantage when they eventually tank to their rightful rating of 12-1500 as they now have 20 ilvls on those who are equally skilled as them. When 2 people of approx the same skill fight, gear does give an advantage to one the other wont have.