You didn't counter the point. Missing bash 40% of the time versus 10% of the time is not comparable. Having 400HP when slept versus having 800HP when slept is not comparable. One you'll survive and the other you will not.

I picked those two because they're administrators. There's plenty of players that also perfect their skills but that wouldn't illustrate my point that you guys yourselves do not run around in unlimited gear with unpracticed skills.

Your basic point is that you don't *need* to perfect your skills or spells to compete and my point has been and still is that being at a disadvantage of 50%+ is not "competing". It's either picking on newbies or getting your ass handed to you.