"That would level the playing field, so to speak, but would also punish players who are simply better at maximizing their potential."

The problem is that, no matter how good you are, and how perfectly you play, the one big deciding factor in how much XP, Combat, magic, or special, you gain is your guild. And the differences are atrocious, really. Low end for S/M is less than half the high end, and low end for c is less than 1/6 of the high end.

How exactly to resolve it is open to debate, but I feel it should be. As is, for example an enchanter and arch-mage, both playing equally much, and both being equally skilled, the Arch-mage will be considerably higher level, and thus able to scry and cast whatever spells he likes on the enchanter. I think that's... not quite right.

"This might be splitting hairs, but it seems to be a distinction that will have to be drawn if it is determined that every guild should be capable of earning the same amount rather than every guild actually earning the same amounts."

I thought it was a quite obvious distinction... \:\) That's why I said "potential". How exactly to achieve it would take some... thinking.

"This seems completely wrong to me, so how might something like an equalized earning even begin to be approached?"

Well, Darke used to have buffers, for a start... that also prevented people from reaching Highmortal in one week, real time...