This is factually wrong.
First of all, how is SL's legendary system a lottery, when it's 100% crafted with the memory, missives, item and ressource costs being guaranteed?
Second: MoP's and WoD's were absolutely a lottery. You had to farm materials in the raids for many weeks, several times and the drops per boss were not 100%. Some people could get the legendaries whenever they were available, while others had to continue farming for weeks if not months even if they all started playing at the same time.
- - - Updated - - -
Well you are right on that. That being said though, they are doubling down on what OP has been essentially complaining about, which is the crafted gear system in itself, such as that it will cost you if you don't do professions yourself and that it will be important for endgame one way or another. They just won't be legendary-quality and the acquisition method won't be completely the same besides the stuff that OP complained about (gold and material costs).
We can already see where all this is heading with the new optional reagents they've added in 9.2, where you as a crafter have to farm them out and then you can add Equip-effects to your items.