How about for Rare and Epic Loot its DM Given during quests. Earn your keep and you shall be rewarded.
Then in most cases only specific groups would get these items.
I prefer custom items to be given by DM's, ones that arnt just 'power'.
I like the idea of having to complete a whole dungeon, locate different 'keys, rods, statue's' so you can enter the final room, make people work for their treasure's not just grind.
But for 'Epic Loot' to be found, i would suggest a rebalance of it, as some of the highest area's on the server drop mediocre loot, in comparison to some of the mid-high levels that drop high tier items.