What does everyone usually do for gear at lower levels?
Until I start instancing, I have all my teams run around in tuxedos or black dresses, depending on gender(!). Nothing outside of an instance lasts long enough for gear to be a worry, and having some sort of theme to your team's gear makes a clear statement that you're dressed that way because you want to be. Naked would probalby work too, come to think of it.

I didn't even bother training between levels 46 and 58 on my last team, either. I got fed up with having to run back to the trainer. You pretty much just obliterate everything in your path by sheer weight of numbers.

Once I decide to start instancing, I either do a quick boost run with a 70 to get some gear or dump some cash at the AH. I did that at level 40 on my shammies, so they could all have some mail armour, but their next gear upgrades will all come from Outland.