This is a post for PvE.
In my opinion End game makes or breaks a MMO. To date SWTOR has little to offer end gamers.
A few things for a simple solution,
1. Have better drops with a separate lock out for 16 man raids.
2. Allow one (of the latest) commendations drop from the final boss in 4 mans.
3. Same as above for the 8 man raids.
4. More [weekly] daily's that will drop the latest commendations.
You could raise the cost of gear with these comms a little, but this would enable the 4 mans to mean something other than social points. Would allow end gamers to have more than 1-2 nights of end gaming.