Couldn't stand PoE. And while trade chat works (I use it sparingly in FFXIV) it's basically nothing more than a more time consuming and more irregular means to the same end - if you can even find someone to deal with while reaching only X people in a channel at one time.
Plus I have a hard time seeing them finding the 'sweet spot' (if one even exists) for drop rates with no market available to balance time and reward.
I've always been of the opinion that having the AH was a huge step forward.
I guess I just get confused on how people think the system is going to be, especially with the Mystic now. I see it like this:
D3 is enhancing and increasing loot, since the AH will no longer be in play. This means you're more likely to not only find an upgrade, but one for YOU. If by chance you don't find one, or would rather buy one, then trade chat it.
You have a 500dps weapon, and you want a higher one. Global economy shows that an 800dps weapon is around 10,000,000 gold. Say you want an upgrade in trade chat (or whatever system they have in place) and get it (I'm sure plenty of people will have X-DPS weapons).
Don't like the modifiers on it? Great, take it to the Mystic and fix it.
Want to just craft your own? They're making crafting more prominent, so then just do that.
Honestly, the AH turned the game into one where you constantly see better equipment than yours and you feel really jaded about what you have. So then you go and farm gold for millions upon millions so you can buy a piece better than yours. And you feel elated until you go farm more gold for a slightly better piece again.
Now, farming is part of the game, I agree. But did anyone ever go farm in the hopes to get better equipment DROPS? Not really, as it didn't happen because you had the AH available, so there were almost never those "oh man I can't wait for my next piece of loot to drop" moments. I feel that the expansion will change that.