I found when I went out of my way to get good gear I was more or less unstoppable. Warriors couldn't do #### to me because I outtanked them with temperance. Priests couldn't cast on me. Directed spell casters like necros and transmuters couldn't do much to me thanks to saves, maran powers and champs stand. Invokers I didn't tend to beat, but likewise they didn't tend to beat me either.

I did fine without uber gear, but you're sorta missing the point. You give someone lagging attacks plus sanc plus protection plus mongoose dodge plus immune vs lag plus perma-divine saves against spells plus auto-attack necros plus an 85 damroll on an avg 31 nodisarm weapon and they should kick some serious ass. If they don't, well, that person wasn't going to kick ass with any other class either.