so i thought i would calculate the gains from guild and necklace heirlooms compared to enchants. this is what i got.
comparing cloth int items, using values from
http://www.twinkinfo.com/forums/f43/gear-scaling-index-61966/
Tattered Dreadmist Mask with
Lucky Fishing Hat - Item - World of Warcraft (not easily obtainable either) gives +9 int, -2 stam, +12 haste
Tattered Dreadmist Leggings with
Silk-Threaded Trousers gives -4 int, +3 stam, +6 crit, +6 haste
Ancient Bloodmoon Cloak with
Battle Healer's Cloak gives +1 int, +4 stam, +4 crit, +4 haste
Eternal Horizon Choker with
Brilliant Necklace gives +2 int, +7 stam, +7 crit
total +8 int, +12 stam, +17 crit, +22 haste
average per gear +2 int, +3 stam, +9.75 secondary stat
from this page
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Aysr8WcIId_KOAARNNRUtqNH32_SaIlPn14YF64UXgk/pubhtml#
Gift of Critical Strike - Spell - World of Warcraft gives +19 crit
Secret Crane Wing Inscription - Spell - World of Warcraft gives +5 int, +1 crit
Gift of Critical Strike - Spell - World of Warcraft gives +25 crit, 10% movement
Glorious Stats - Spell - World of Warcraft gives +2 int, +2 stam
Super Intellect - Spell - World of Warcraft gives +4 int
Glove Reinforcements - Spell - World of Warcraft gives +12 stam
Master's Spellthread - Spell - World of Warcraft gives +6 int, +5 stam
Boar's Speed - Spell - World of Warcraft gives +4 stam, 8% movement
Gift of Critical Strike - Spell - World of Warcraft gives +13 crit (ring x2)
for weapon, i didnt use proc effects even though they are better cos would be hard to calculate
Major Intellect - Spell - World of Warcraft gives +12 int
total +29 int, +23 stam, +71 crit, 10% movement (cos movement dont stack)
average per enchant +2.64 int, +2.09 stam, +6.45 secondary stat
looking at that, it seems to me that the heirlooms give about the same stat as enchants per piece, so they are equally good.
unless those of you who are saying enchants make all the difference are talking about the number of slots that can be enchanted that give more stats in total than the heirlooms.
or are you saying the weapon proc effect and movement speed makes all the difference?