Can we really say that making another character is like going into prestige?
You got all weapons, clothing and attachments on the new one
Let's call it.. NEW GAME- ? Instead of NEW GAME+ where you keep your original character and advance further
All the character customisations are carried over to a new character...
If you've got a level 20 character, then restart from level 0, you can use the high-level clothing unlocks - they've implied you can use the high-level guns as well, but I don't think that's confirmed.
So yeah, it IS like prestige. You're reset level-wise, but you still look like a high-level bad*** right from the start.
Except when you prestige you lose pretty much everything. Only difference.
What's more important - the weapons which they've confirmed are going to be no better than the ones you start with, just more situational and allowing more varied tactics, or the abilities which are potentially game-changing, whether active or passive? Not to mention the fact that you might be losing your weapons too... (as I marked in bold, not confirmed either way afaik)
Prestige gives players an indication that you're a reset high-level player, not a novice that's coming in without experience - kind of like having high-level gear in a low-level game will do. I think the comparison fits pretty well.
Please explain what I'm missing here, because I don't see your point very well.