While I'm not entirely happy about the change myself, I can see the motivation behind it (need capable people to boost the morons in looking for raid, so they need to have a reason to queue: i.e. completing set bonus) . It's going to be your weekly icc 25 man pug again that clears 3-4 bosses, where a couple capable players boost idiots.

Either way, as you said yourself, you never raid, then why would you need raid gear? Of course I understand everyone wants to gear up as much as possible, but it makes a lot of sense to me: if you don't raid you can't get raid gear (which is partially true since there is still off set pieces, there are BOE's and crafted gear).