It's the Eternal Commander set, which is item level 230 gear, 236 tops. So you would still need to grind you way up to the higher level gear (and as f2p, you still need artifact authorization to equip the gear, don't get cxp or command ranks to get gear from those crates, and can't run Ops, so really, the only way to get better gear than from the Master Datacron is to do pvp).
So it really isn't pay to win, the only "pay to win" style option would be to actually subscribe (only have access to CXP and Ops, which are the easiest routes to 248 gear while subbed, even if you do retain access to all content and leveling capability once you unsub). People love to sling "Pay to win" around, but it does not mean what they think it means. Having a cash shop does not equal pay to win, and SWTOR has been very good about not having actual p2w items available, 230 gear is the very basic level 70 set (you can get 228, but that's crafted gear), so it makes sense to have it available if you are going to do a boosted character.
In a way, the Master's Datacron is pay to progress faster, because it is an instant boost to 70 with gear for Cartel Coins, or, you could pay for 1-2 months of subscription, use the start at 65 token you would get for doing so (provided you haven't already used it previously), level that character up to 70, and grind out the cxp to get the same gear, and start working on getting better gear.
So it is exactly what you want it to be (because you could create a level 1 (and take a short amount of time to level to a required level if it isn't 1, usually 10 is the next threshold for stuff), apply the MD, and bam, level 70. If that's not progressing faster, I don't know what is.