If you wanna make a grind focused cRPG, but actually don't like grind at all, then why don't you make a totally grindless version of cRPG, called "cRPG light" or something like that? In your post you seem to say that you don't like the character development aspect in online games at all!
The idea is basing on my old suggestion:
Characters get an additional, attribute-independant skill which increases the maximum value of items they can use.
You can create a fixed number of characters (about 10 or so) you can choose every round as your "class". Those characters are not bound to any limitations, they are all of one max level and have access to every piece of equipment. To have better equipment they have to sacrifice skill points. 2 skill points can be converted into one attribute point, and vice versa.
This would place the RPG part where it belongs to: supporting your personal play style and the tactic you are following on the battlefield. If you win it's because of your skill in combination with your RPG choice, not because you have spent more time playing than others.
To keep some kind of long term motivation there could be some special items to be unlocked, which only LOOK differently, but don't have better stats. It's just to make other players recognize you on the battlefield, which is truer (?) roleplaying than some weird skill points and character values
Poll