I remember first starting, convinced I would kick ass once I got the heavy gear. Of course I didn't, and just lost all my money. But valour and banner stacking help, but if you're new you gotta rely on luck. Someday you'll have 20 X5 games in a row, and you'll find yourself rich.
But the fact is is that you gotta play light gear quite often. I go Transitional Heraldic when I'm rich, heraldic mail when I'm doing ok, then plain mail when I'm broke. This is a good thing for me, cuz when I wear my transitional too much I start crutching. Then I put on my mail and learn to block again.
(banner stacking is when you are in a clan and everyone gets put on the same team. Usually good players who know how to work together to win).