The State Of Leveling

I just recently moved server from Carby to Asura and I have noticed one thing, when was it a requirement to have a REMA weapon just to do a leveling group? I have come across many that want BiS REMA people to go get merits/CP with but then again such people wouldn't really need to do suc h things cause they are most likely capped on everything. So why are people wanting the best of the best when most do not have such.