You say the AoE dmg is too much to handle for the AVERAGE group, but Hard modes are not for the average group. You actually need well geared competent players, and that is what is intended. I am actually glad how BW has made fights that require skill instead of the usual DPS fest that comes from other MMOs.

This has been said multiple times already, but the only thing needed to defeat this boss is people paying attention. His only real damaging ability is completely avoidable if people are actually paying some attention. A lot of bosses in this game actually require people to look at what is going on and react accordingly, as opposed to other MMO's DPS/numbers!!!!! obsession. Good situational awareness pretty much will let you beat any mobs so far I have seen.

Although I agree that robe looks ugly as sin, since all the gear stats come from mods on items that do have mod slots, you can have the exact same stats as the ugly banana tree robe on something else that you already own. I have ran into a lot of equipment that I did not like the look of it, so I just stripped it and placed the mods in whatever gear I wanted for my looks. I actually have been really happy with aesthetic options so far. Basically its pretty much transmog from WoW, but a hell of a lot more customizable.