What creates a barrier of entry?
The entire nature of this game is a barrier to entry to new players.
A guild starts out with no boss drops. As it starts getting more, the guild members get stronger. This allows them to hunt the boss even faster, and kill competing guilds faster. It's a snowball effect that favors those who successfully act first.
Late in the game's life cycle there are fewer and fewer people selling and buying low level parts. New players find it hard to find people to sell their low-tier stuff to, and low-tier stuff to buy. The already rich get richer than the poor do.
VIP system.
This game has never been fair to the weak and green.