Raid gear is absolutely not required to run ST EM or HM. It does of course make it a whole lot easier, and most people forming Pugs to grind the zone are not looking for a challenge.
ST EM can be done with a group that has mostly all the gear from EM instances, and this includes a complete set of dozekar faction gear, and a handfull of endless crates.
ST HM can be done with a group that has mostly all the gear from HM instances up through HM Lyc (+ all the EM gear).
That's it's logical positioning. Think of the EM version as the zone that comes after EM Underdepths (ground until you have all the gear from it. Think of the HM version as the zone that comes after HM Underdepths, but you can squeak by with slightly lesser gear. (One mans opinion of course).
And the gear that drops is better than the gear required to get through the zone. (Mostly, some are wiggly sidegrades).
Fundamentally, you just ran into folks who wanted an Easy run, and didn't feel you would provide that. You're probably perfectly capable of doing the zone, if you form up with some like-minded people. Some days being able to do a zone, and being able to join a quick pug for said zone, are two different things....
But....... Get your Epic, and Epic Repurcussions done. It's 95% soloable now. And you're right, anyone that sees you without your epic might well snicker a bit. It's important, It's fairly easy to get. And anyone that hasn't bothered to get it, is sometimes looked down upon (rightly or wrongly) as not being at all serious at playing. Go, Get Epic. Get Epic Repurcussions. Go Now!!!!