The change recently to make the rings with AR available to everyone 10+ just by completing dailys has done a great deal to allow those “Unlucky” (The ones that ran 10-22 without having a ring drop once in Dailys) Guildies the chance to catch up with the Luckier people (Those that had a ring from each and every daily chest) in terms of being able to run Fractals with people you know and know can play.
The changes for January would mean you could then have that Valuable (But ringless) player come help you out in at least getting to the final encounters (Which is where AR is more applicable)..
It has more beneficial returns to Guilds that it will have to the player base in general In my Own opinion.
The DC fix is the biggest issue though..