Yeah, everything I've heard about WotLK makes it seem like throwing more grind in front of the obsessed. PvP items require Honor points AND Arena points, and disappear if your Arena ranking dips too low? Artifacts that you have to individually level to make them godlike? Catering to the hardcore at the expense of the dabblers doesn't often work out, be it in games or politics or entertainment or what have you.
Uh, just wanted to make some quick clarifications here because it seems whoever is feeding you information might actually be entirely crazy. Not meant as a PLAY WOW OMG post, but correct info is good to have.
PvP gear is mostly tied to Arena now, yes, but it's been that way since BC and Wrath doesn't change much. Ratings requirement has been and is still only a requirement to PURCHASE it, you can fucking quit arena entirely and your items don't go anywhere and can still be equipped.
The interpretation of the new artifacts thing is kind of boggling, because it's completely opposite. Here's what is actually happening:
-"Artifact" item level that was never used except for GM items is being used for new Heirloom items
-Heirloom items are bought with badges from heroic/10man raids, which is standard endgame stuff
-Heirloom items are Account Bound, they can be mailed to any other character on your account.
-Heirloom items have scaling stats. Their stats are dependant on what level you are, so they have the stats of really good Blue items for your level. They're not supposed to be uber epics, but designed to be items to make levelling alts faster and less grindy.
So basically, you get an Heirloom weapon and some shoulders and mail it to a new level 1 you just made, and it gives him really really good equipment for those slots that will make 1-70 fly by a lot quicker. The entire purpose is to cut down on grinding.
Other fun facts:
-Heirloom shoulders give +10% increase experience gain
-Heirloom items are all old classic WoW weapons/shoulders that people liked and considered iconic, so there's stuff like the Bloodied Arcanite Reaper