@messiahxxxx End game for PLs is being able to sail freely and hunt down other players.
I highly doubt a low level would reach tier 10 of Athena and still be a low level unless a crew is only letting them turn in the Legendary Chest. Even then the final tier is supposedly 100 chests which is 200 hours roughly of Athena's Voyages. If someone is willing to put in that level of work I say they have earned it.
There is no skill based anything in this game, it's all about your commitment to grinding or hijacking other pirates loot.
Instead of focusing on the ghost gear set they should be looking into challenges you complete to get certain gear. Kill 10 pirates get X, Kill 100 pirates get Y, Kill 1000 pirates unlock Z!
Just my .02 cents.