Why does it matter if bad players get gear? This isn't 2004 when players were satisfied with just being able to level reliably. In any RPG, players get frustrated when they stop progressing. At max level, this means new gear.
Thinking about my years in WoW, I had the most fun was playing with some motivated but mediocre players. I really hope TOR makes it possible for me to carry players. Ultimately, people are more fun than content. Increasing difficulty decreases the number of potential friends and increases churn.