I play casually, and will likely only do LFR (perhaps Normal PUGs) in Legion. I like the idea of the tier bonuses in LFR, but if they didn't exist I wouldn't care either. I'll go after the best gear I can get for my play style...if that happens to include Tier Bonuses, great...if not, *shrug*
That said, I find it interesting that the "real" raiders (and I've been one, mind you) take issue with people who play lower difficulties getting gear that might be decent. Item level is an upgrade at each tier, it (along with the non-stat rewards such as achievements, titles, mounts) are the greater reward. They exist in Normal+. The thing I find interesting about this concept is that the Normal+ groups, for the most part, echo their argument as one voice...three levels of raiding all rallying to knock down a fourth.
How about this. The Tier bonuses, the achievements, the titles, the mounts...are awarded only on Mythic. Normal and Heroic are lesser raiders, and therefore shouldn't be entitled to the same rewards that the Mythic players get. If you are a Normal or Heroic raider and disagree with this...then it's really about people beneath YOU not getting anything that makes YOU feel special. (But I need the Tier bonus to progress in my Normal/Heroic raid....right, because the fights couldn't be tuned around your lack of a bonus.)
As for the "I don't want to feel forced to do LFR" argument, I can understand that...and that is actually a valid argument. The fix to that is (as others have said) make LFR flagged gear not work with the Normal+ gear for set bonuses...and/or just make it share a lock out with the Normal+ raids. You either raid LFR for the week, or you raid Normal+