I know this is how it was back in the days on official servers but blizzard isn't perfect.

I would suggest that heroic dungeon bosses drop valor emblems instead of heroism once ulduar is releases (3.1).
It would be a little less cumbersome for new players to join ulduar raiding guilds.
It might even lower the waiting queues for random dungeons since it's slightly more interesting to run them and players might consider to get a decent offspec (healer/tank) earlier which would also lower waiting queues on rhc.
It would also give better access to PvP for those that are doing mainly PvE unless PvP players prefer cannon fodder in savage gear instead of hateful (they would still be an easier target in hateful)

In 3.1 new players have to be dragged thru Naxx which is very annoying and why new players have a hard time joining Ulduar raiding guild.
In 3.2 you barely need any Ulduar runs to gear up for ToC.
In 3.3 you can gear up for ICC even easier.

Al new players currently joining need much longer to gear up in 3.1 which is annoying for both new and old (already geared) players.
Best advice to new players is to sit out 3.1 and wait for 3.2 making 3.1 the worse period in the process for all.