You seem to be conveniently leaving out that some of the harder to farm gear is also available in higher level challenges (i.e. Mk6 Syringes) - and why do you NEED to farm the last node of the attacker challenge? I have 200+ of the Mk 8 BioTech, so when I need some Mk4 keypads (which I currently have 100+ of), I simply run a few sims of Tier IV attacker challenge.
Also at 85, you typically pick up a couple of good gear pieces in your daily prize box - not to mention the crystals in that prize box to help buy more gear in shipments.
If you are completing both raids on a regular basis (which you should be at 85) you are picking up gear (whole and salvage) at a decent rate.
In the past month I have levelled and geared TFP to 11 with no trouble. Darth Maul is already sitting at G11 waiting for his 7th star.
I honestly feel the grind less at 85 than I did several months ago. Now, it is true that that is balanced (which is kind of the point here) with the fact that I "need" a character to be at G11 to be arena viable at this point - but again, balance and the constant need to improve or fall back is exactly what the game is based on.
Yes, there is a grind - but only if you feel the need to "keep up". But that's the game, so I don't see the issue. Sorry.