This is an idiotic change that really only benefits end game players. While it is easier for them, it's more difficult for the players who are leveling. Even then it isn't so much of a big deal with non mod-able gear.
Green or blue gear always had a gear score before I just never paid attention to it. I always compared stats so I got an apples to apples look at it. Yes a Guardian piece and a Might piece might have the same rating but if I've been going heavy endurance then rating really doesn't mean as much.
As for mod-able purple or orange gear that is where my complaint comes in. Before I could look at a glance with no thought at all and see who mods needed to be updated while I was in imperial fleet. At level 37 I could open my character screen and see, about half of the stuff was for 35 and the other 33 or lower. Made it easy to count how many I needed and what types took all of 5 seconds. Now I have to ctrl + rclick a few pieces look at the installed mods level and then look at the rating. Try and remember that while I ctrl + rclick a few more pieces that are the lowest rating, and the mid rating. Then I can start adding up what pieces I need to replace after I've done that. I went from a quick 5 second glance to a process that takes 10 to 20 times that.
I don't have any characters that are max level. I do have 4 characters 30 + and powertech at 48. So I don't raid. Even if I did have a 55 I wouldn't raid. I haven't done an MMO raid in years. They aren't worth the time, and I question if they are really even worth the story. Yet here is a change made for raiders forced down the throat of the causal player. Bioware took a system that was stupid easy to understand and made it complicated. I guess somebody forgot the KISS theorem. Keep It Simple Stupid