Hurpdy durp. I am a ninja build, And because I don't wear anything shiny I get one hit by arrows AND throwing. I think being one hit in melee is bad enough personally
So you are a ninja build, yet you want tin cans to be brought back to their almost godlike ultra mode with no upkeep? Also, have you seen players like Huey newton, Badplayer or Rohypnol run around on their very strong horses? They absolutely dominate the battle field. Upkeep is a pain for all of us. Archer currently are paying a pretty penny for the higher up bows and arrows while crossbowmen also pay the price of most heavy armors to use higher end bows like the Arbalest. Ninjas's aren't meant to take alot of damage. They are meant to move quickly, surprise opponents and take as little damage as possible. Sounds as if you ought to re-evaluate your play style.
Also, those tin cans in that small Aussie community are probably paying money out the ass to keep their gear on as much as possible. All the market place did was make it so that heirloomed items could be achieved without weeks of tireless grinding. They are still paying out the wazoo to use those high end items.