This. Giving everyone a stat boost to the highest level of the bracket would be awesome (i.e. - a level 32 player would get his stats buffed to the equivalent of level 34, etc.). They could just have a baseline level of stats for what someone's stats in blues at the bracket's highest level would be. It would go a long way toward mitigating heirlooms' overpowered-ness.

It wouldn't affect heirlooms at all. What you said would balance 20 and 24 in the same level-to-ilevel ratio, which is fine.

If people work for gear, they should see fruition from their labors. Heirlooms are not hard to get. If you think they make a huge difference, go get them.

@Twill

Just go out and get heirlooms? Tell that to the newbie who just started their toon. Or even tell it to the experienced player who just started a new account. I get that your view of WoW is squarely centered on your own experiences, but you really should try to have an objective opinion about these things so that you might catch a glimpse of what other players go through.

Try getting heirlooms whithout a 85 character and tell us how easy it was.