yeah I was late 20's early 30's before I started to see that stuff. I remember going "OMG ... I can't wait to wear my lvl30 Armor!" thinking how much cooler I looked.
Then seeing all the higher lvl char's up on the stairs on the way to the dreaded CP. I still like to gawk a little when I see a high lvl cleric wandering around uruga. I have yet to see a full lvl 70 cleric not wearing cash shop clothes though.