Did 5.2/5.3 implement any freebie quest epics for newcomers (like firelands/dragons)

[Trubo]

Might as well not hold on to all that JP and honor because when the new season starts and the new tier comes out, all that gets converted to gold and you start from scratch.

Conquest will be converted to Honor. Any Honor over 4k will be converted to coin. Valor and Justice will not be affected.

As for the OP there are some relatively easy pieces of gear to get:

476 boots from killing Sha
502 boots for completing the new scenario quest chain and doing part of the Barrens stuff
489 randomly itemized gear (once per week from the Barrens by getting a Radical Mojo and using it to empower Latent Korkron Armor)

Other than that your best bet is to get into T14 pugs on openraid or similar sites.

Short Slot Summary of what will be able with JP in 5.4:
Back: i496 Kirin Tor Offensive/Sunreavers
Chest: i489 Golden Lotus
Feet: i496 Op Shieldwall/Domination if character doesn't complete 5.3 quest for i502 Boots
Fingers: i496 Kirin Tor Offensive/Sunreavers has one, Op Shieldwall/Domination has another
Hands: i489 August Celestials
Head: i489 Shado-Pan
Legs: i489 Klaxxi
Neck: i489 Klaxxi
Shoulders: i489 Golden Lotus
Trinkets: i496 Op Shieldwall/Domination and i489 Shado-Pan
Waist: i496 Op Shieldwall/Domination
Wrist: i489 August Celestials

Weapons, as always, are a challenge. I recommend avoiding the expensive "Reborn" line of epic weapons currently available on the AH, and try to get cheaper weapons. As a Priest you may want to see if you can get a cheap Inscribed Crane/Serpent Staff made (i476), or at least an offhand red or jade fan.

NOTE: I listed the faction the items are purchased from, but my understanding is that you will not require rep with the faction to purchase the items as of 5.4.

I don't recall reading this; just that all 5.0 Valor gear (possibly 5.1 and Kirin Tor/Sunreaver 5.2) will only require Justice Points to be purchased.

Edit 2: Didn't see your comment towards bottom of page, thanks.

[Kalcheus]

I'm assuming this means Mounts and such....but I wonder if the Revered req recipes are lowered. Namely the August celestial ones (I hate those quests and can never force myself to get my enchanter to do them)

On the PTR there are currently no changes to enchantments or similar that have a rep requirement.

- - - Updated - - -

I don't recall reading this; just that all 5.0 Valor gear (possibly 5.1 and Kirin Tor/Sunreaver 5.2) will only require Justice Points to be purchased.

See bolded part below:

From the Patch Notes:

• Adjustments have been made to Mists of Pandaria faction quartermasters.
  
  • Epic quality (purple) Valor items sold by the Shado-Pan Assault now have their reputation requirements reduced to Friendly or below, and have their Valor Point cost reduced by 34%.
  • Epic quality (purple) Valor items sold by all other Mists of Pandaria faction quartermasters no longer have reputation requirements, and will now cost Justice Points instead of Valor.
  • Rare quality (blue) items have their Justice Point cost reduced by 75%.
  • No changes for items that require an Exalted reputation.

[Sicarius87]

Just because they didnt reset valor for 5.2 doesnt meant they wont for 5.4. Previous years show they always convert this stuff to coin.

[Kalcheus]

Just because they didnt reset valor for 5.2 doesnt meant they wont for 5.4. Previous years show they always convert this stuff to coin.

1. No one is claiming valor won't be reset with 5.4, the discussion is regarding JP.
2. Only excess over the cap has ever been converted to coin.