I was actually talking to Grasen about that just yesterday.  I'm convinced that player skill makes a huge difference in a raid environment compared to gear.  Gear allows lesser players to play on that same tier, and gear allows the truly skilled players to push themselves even further than before.

My philosophy is very similar to Frostheim, in that every night you are trying to beat your previous best.  Whether that takes better positioning, better moving, or better execution of key class trademarks, your gear should only be a small factor.

It goes without saying that skill > gear, unfortunately gear has a rating and skill is harder to measure.

Where the hell is the upvote button for this?! I think we should also take a look at ourselves in this light. Are we playing equal to our gear? thats for you to decide.

Reminds me of the days when guilds in MC-level gear were nearly clearing Naxx40.  Oh, the days when consumeables made a significant difference.

Still, it's a good point to remember.  No amount of gear can cover a flaw in your understanding of your class.