I wouldn't quite call the place a catch up mechanism, the 496 gear at this point is worthless in almost all scenarios, and you can get like one or two 535 items in grinds that take FOREVER and the gear is like worst in slot for the item level. Blizz could've tossed in something a bit more viable, even if it takes a few weeks, that gives something better than 496. Did I mention they are wearing off the novelty of, well, novelty items? There's like 100 different things that make you look like a pirate, or a skeleton, or a skeletal pirate..... take it easy with that stuff blizz lol.