So you do agree with my statement about "High IP = win by default".

No I said that if your gear is worse you will have to compensate with skill and build.

You mean "balance" as in a fully spec'd account running around in T4/5 having the same IP as a new player whose forced to use 7.x/8.x to reach the same IP values?

Are you for real complaining about leveling? You really DONT WANT to play an RPG, right? Being 100 give you 18% extra power and it takes like 3 days to get there. Cmon dude, stop complaining.

Why would anyone create a PvP game in which ilvl + how much someone grinded are the biggest factors in determining success in PvP, but skill is an afterthought until both parties have similar-ish IP?

They are not, if you are a complete idiot in 8.3 a guy in flat 6 will kill you, happens all the time... the reality though is that people in 8.3 usually ALSO KNOW HOW TO PLAY THE GAME, because its unsustainable to run 8.3 unless you know how to play the game.

Based on what's known about Mists a fully spec'd 8.3 can meet a new player in T4, with an obvious outcome, and yet you downplay it with "If you want completely balanced PvP leave".

That's completely unrealistic, you are talking about a set that is worth 50-100m against a player with 20k worth of gear. AND STILL, even in THAT situation, you can completely win a fight if you play right... go to fucking camlann or any dungeon and it's full of people in flat 4 killing people in high tier gear, but then you need to have skill and the right build. If you are a noob and yoru build sucks you wont win, but if you are good, your build is right, and the guy in 8.3 is a moron, you can win.

Stop whining dude, it's insane in Albion how weak gear is... in most MMORPGs gear is the only thing that matters, in Albion you are realistically talking about a 20-30% difference in stats for like 50 times more money.