I am level 4. I have no emotional stake in any other players gear, premium status, or what they supposedly lost due to an unfair ban...but after reading this, it's definitely surprising/suspicious and I am too bored not to comment.
I'd bet my fancy felt hat that there is some other factor missing because it doesn't make sense as the situation stands right now. But really this is an individual game and it doesn't matter what another player has compared to the rest of us, especially as the weeks and months go by. Otherwise there would be no incentive to join a world when it has already been in progress for a long period of time. It's not Rebelwars fault so no use yelling at him. Plus I doubt any of us would give back a free item worth $8,500.
Maybe this will set precedent for giving away undeserved and impossible to obtain free gear in the future so don't complain TOO much on this thread in case you are the innocent victim of an unfair banning a few weeks from now.