They pull the good gear down from the high levels into the attainable low levels. It's really healthy for the game for this to happen. You're a hero. There's PLENTY of things you can get that are suitable. Those lowbies are just tickled pink just to behold the goodness they normally can't achieve. Trust me, getting a bodyguard staff or one of those acid staffs when I'm low enough to maul trolls with them is serious fun. That's why when I'm no longer using those items, I leave them in that area. It's good to pass on postive fun in this game any time you can.
But seriously folks, you tend to get yourself confused with the character. Let's up the roleplay ante here a bit and focus on the characters and not the players. It is after all an RP mud. And by you, I really mean we cause I'm seriously guilty of this too from a personal aspect. I'd be tickled pink if the RP aspect became the major emphasis again.