I actually ran level 26 on normal mode VoG and 28 on hard mode VoG. I refused to invest in gear that would be "thrown away" as soon as I got raid quality... now that dilemma is gone (not sure how I feel about that). But I wanted the Vision of Confluence so badly. I had all the rest of the raid stuff after the 3rd week of HM being out. Including Vex and Fatebringer. Just no VoC. Wasn't till 2 weeks before HoW came out that I finally got my gun. =) good times though I love running raids abd meeting other guardians!