That better farmed gear is worthless if it get no use and just sits in riff all day.
The sole purpose in an MMO seems to me, is to PVP. Play Second Life if you want a visual chat room.
To be viable in PVP is to have skills and gear, and knowing your class. But again, you don't acquire all three sitting in riff 90% of one's game time.
I guess it's a balance though. Us pvpers need someone to gank, while they sit and chat in riff anyways :)