Don't think we are as bad off as the OP says, but on the other hand people shouldn't be saying things are fine l2p when they have gear maybe .5-1% of the players posses, so obviously this isn't going to be the same experience for those first starting epics.
Feels like tanking doesn't really matter at all with the current state of the game, I'd also prefer to be a tank but its just worse for the group if you aren't doing as much damage as possible.
Because they are paying for/supporting the game, obviously. Even if it isn't the 200 it should count for something, ignoring customers who are willing to throw down cash and have the disposable income to spare isn't a smart move.