Lol, thats a long time out there to suddenly get a reply. From my point of view (I agree with Klapton) you are missing the mark on what problems most people have with EQII. There is really only one set of armor quests, and you can do them in a reasonable amount of time or make money and buy crafted stuff thats as good or better.
I wish there were similar armor quest at all levels. There are well known quests available through the game, but you can either do them, or buy pretty much whatever you want. It might be a flaw in the 50+ game that rare player crafted items are very good for the level...I see some fabled stuff of the same level (typically raid loot) that I wouldn't replace it with.
Certainly specific classes (like a cleric wanting wisdom) might shop the dropped pieces, but the crafted is pretty good.)
Armor repair is really a non-issue...just a very minor incentive not to die...unless you are decked out in really first class gear and are learning (and failing) on a new raid. That can get pricey, but if you are doing that, most likely you can afford it.
I understand Klapton's comment and agree to some extent, but I don't find it any more that way than I did in EQI. I am very happy with my Dirge and at 59, I have serveral options on how to approach my group buff/debuff setup and the fight itself. However, once you pick one for a given situation, if you are grinding in the same spot...it is very repetitive. Not more so than my pre-bandolier EQI bard, but up there. My dirge is rotating though up to 18 or so spell slots on a hard encounter? Then after the first pass, varied reuse timers make it a little more interesting.
I think I could enjoy either game equally well, but with my playstyle, I always felt I was 'behind' in EQI...I'd group with raid geared players that barely noticed I was there. That doesn't happen in EQII.
Something I do notice, when I go play a low level alt...there just aren't enough buttons to push. I get a little frustrated. Once in your 40's or so, I just don't find thats the case for me.