Well I've played here for about 10months. It took me about 7 months to complete all my PvP stuffs(Donation gears and MvP cards). Then I quitted playing and gave away all my stuffs LOL.
Now 6 months since I quitted, I got bored and decided to play again. And yes, I'm starting from scratch again(using NPC buyable equips and 0 zeny). The only item that I didn't gave away was my Dragon Aurora(had a sentimental value).
If you'd ask me it's way easier to earn equips now than before. Back then, coupons are worth 100m and berries had a price ratio of 4:1.
Ive been only playing for 2-3weeks now and I've already earned 200+ coupons.
You could earn some zeny through looting Lucius's Fierce Armor of Volcano(dropped by Fox) in for_fild03.
Get a wiz and SG+LoV those nasty fox and you'll earn as much as 2m per minute. 30m is a high price for a coupon. There are many ppl selling them for 20-25m.
Please don't get envious of the advantages the donators get. They are spending their real life's fortune on a game. Im not saying that donating is not a good idea, since it helps the server alot. But can you imagine spending 1000-2000 dollars? Yes, that's how much you have to donate if you want to have every equips and cards possible in an instant, including thanas, emp auroras and rucksacks(I'm not even sure if that amount of money is already enough).
I've pawned quite a handful of donaters back then in my Lord Knight days. So Yes, it is possible. PvP here would always be 40% equips, 57% skills and 3% Luck.