Bungie explicitly took strides to get better at preventing exclusionary stuff with Year 2 and I think they've done that. I've 306 and my friends are 298, but we still do the Nightfall and Iron Banner and have a blast.
My raid experience has been the opposite of yours. It's been my experience that it's harder to get a normal raid going (not impossible), and because I can't get any higher light drops, I'm gated out of Hard mode. Well, not quite. I'm at 306 light, which is okay to start Hard Mode, but a lot of the HM raids are being done by people who are over 310 by now and want someone they can clear quickly with, not someone who will need replacing when they get to Daughters. But that's my experience.
Other thoughts on exclusionary parts of Destiny Year 2:
Trials feels waaaaaay more exclusionary. Before, I felt that as a slightly above average player I could join teams and make good progress. Now, watching the chatter from here, CPB and twitter, that the only way to play with 3 super solid players, especially ones that play together frequently.That 7th match is going to be super-sweaty and you want people you know and can count on. Not some new guy. It doesn't feel like I can join folks. BUT!
But bounties have helped counteract that. Not only in that I can get gear without 7 wins, but that the .01% have a reason to keep playing past the Lighthouse without the need to Flawless. I'm not completely wild about it because I feel like the underclass of Trials. Like "here are some scraps, since you're not good enough to eat at the table", but hey, scraps, you guys. That's something.
Other indirectly exclusionary things. The Taken War quests were great (mostly), but they're often too difficult to solo enjoyably, but don't have matchmaking. And because everyone is on a different step it's really difficult to find people to join to help. It's even harder as I start playing on my alts and a lot of folks are already done with these quests. A definite opportunity for refinement.
Last thing I can think of: exotic quests that feel like jobs. Exotics behind quests I think was a good decision, but when I log on, if I have the choice of helping my friends or farming 10 super-rare planetary mats to get a totally awesome sword, that's not a fun decision. That's not even something you can do with people really. Which is why I still don't have any exotic swords.
Like I said, they've made good progress. But those are some areas that need improvement in my eyes.
