Exactly the same experience and feeling here, No long was I an uber cool Jedi I was an old fart who had to rest after every battle with a trash mob despite having good equipment and a decent companion.
What is with this hood obsession Bioware have, all the artwork hinted at either or, not everything has a hood...
Your customers have spoken, give us a toggle or a set of armour without the damn things
Correct me if im wrong but part of the point of SWTOR was that when you reach 50 you try another other the unique story arcs, the idea is they want you to try playing with a different perspective, different experiences etc.