To this I would ask, why not start everyone out at lvl 20 with a full set of whatever gear they chose? The mechanical power matters quite a bit. Time invested in RP building influence is negated in many ways, by that mechanical power.
I see a lot of merit to your argument. Don't get me wrong. I just don't agree that levelling the playing field in the way you suggest will yield the results you think it will.
My Point is Exactly that.... If people are so Irritated at the Mechanical Advantages, (I will concede the only mechanical advantage is "influence") That they wish to Villainize and witch hunt those that bring these advantages to bear, why not do as you mentioned.?
For me I prefer the grind, it gives me the little dopamine hits and I like it. and that is the only reason to have a "False" progression IMO. To allow some to have those little doses of dopamine. Just as overcoming the Teams Countless changes in dungeons or Barra's Ganks.
To the last point about these advantages mattering... RP negates most of those... You can position your toon to be in good graces or under protection if threatened by mechanical "Force Influences" You can Wheel and Deal your way out of any "Monetary Influences"
With XP and Coin Advantage Properly dealt with it only leaves "Item Influence/RP Influences" Coin can buy these- but ill be honest. Not really as the player base who holds these advantages are immune to "Monetary Influence" only RP influence, or OOC influence will force that hand... if you can not "Force them by conflict".
To that end lets talk about RP Influences with the Above taken into account. And Some people wonder why Items, And Conflict are what drives the Endgame? Facts remain that's all you can do at that level of RP play. Amass Ally's, Control Recourses, increase standing and try to hold out till someone wants what you have? or complete your RP goal?
Now I will Admit, I am not so well versed in such things. But to this end d’Aubry Comment:
Influence will beat pvp power everytime. You overestimate the amount of PvP that happens on the server. Everyone prepares for it, but there is very little of it because of how easy it is to raise someone who was killed. You will go much further with influencing events than simply PvPing people.
Is another Prime Example from a better source. While placing people on a 6 month timer is certainty a way to get something you want perhaps short term. If someone is RP loved (Or has Influence) and looked for, the Mechanical Assassination of a player is pointless unless handled well. Well provided you don't Corpse hide in nefarious locations or hand the corpse off... Funny how those rules where changed in the passed year or so...
Regardless, I hope this Provides some insight as to my thinking on the Weight of Mechanical Influences being negated through RP. However these are just my Musings or how I would handle it if I wasn't so busy playing in the sandbox and my little whiteboard.
Oh I'm paddling on, The short version is Rare Items are the only Influence gained or Lost to OP's Argument. And again I support the Lost Influence of Items in the RP space.