@ Shmeckie, I was waiting to reply to your post, but I got to reply to all these lame posts…
Why are people acting like Luffy isn't any stronger since his adventure in Alabasta? It doesn't make sense when these guys keep doing more and more impressive stuff as the series has progressed. For one, in Water 7 Luffy was impaled by Lucci's finger in a similar when that he was stabbed by Croc in Alabasta. Yet, while Luffy was hurt instead of needed to be rescued he just got stuck in a building. I believe he even said "this wound is nothing" when it was pretty much the same wound he got from Croc a few arcs back. The SHs are getter stronger.
But more importantly, the gears. People have said they would do nothing against Crocodile because he still can't be hit without his weakness...but Luffy said has Croc's weakness. He just needs to put water on him, or even cut himself, and he has the weakness plus the gears.
And now for a break to describe the actual power of gear 2. Blueno, with tekkai, endured a gatling which would have badly hurt Crocodile. With Gear 2, one jet pistol devastated Blueno. By this logic, in terms of physical strength Croc would be wrecked by a series of jet attacks. Plus there's increased attack speed and evasion.
Now, for the guy who said "it would evaporate in gear 2." Ever see a pipe filled with streaming hot water? Steam certainly comes off it, similar to gear 2, but it can still be wet. This is because water is still running through that pipe, and anyway condensation still keeps it wet. Luffy using water and Gear 2 is definitely possible. Also, who said it had to be a lot of water or blood? Luffy soaked himself twice--that's not so much. He only needed blood on his hands too, there'd be no reason to soak the body parts you aren't fighting with.
So I dunno where all this "gear 2 wouldn't make a difference" stuff is coming from. It would only improve his chances for victory. After all, a stronger Luffy would still use all the same counters back in Alabasta, but with gear 2 he has more of everything with a slight drain on stamina.
Of course, I will agree with the "Luffy would still have trouble with Croc if he had gear2 the first time they fought" Croc, since he wouldn't know the weakness of course. However...wouldn't Luffy be able to dodge those moves better? He could freaking outrun any sand pit, dodge attacks better, and still drink water whenever he gets dried. Plus in gear 2 Luffy could strategically run away from danger.
Another big problem I have with people bringing up the "logia defense" and how no one could hit him is the fact that...this is a basic logia technique and people keep bringing it up. They admit that Croc is slower than some, and physically weaker than some, but fall back on the logia defense. Yet, doesn't this actually just tie Crocodile with every other Logia user in the world?
If a big reason that Croc is so strong is because he can't be hit, then Croc actually isn't the strongest anything, he's in a tie with Smoker, Ace, Kizaru, Enel, and Ao Kiji. That is....lame.
In fact, this logic would say that all these logias are stronger than Whitebeard, The Marine Head Admiral (I forget his name now), and the rest of the shichibukai. Yet, if this was true, than why are logias subordinate to some of these men?
Also, why isn't Croc's bounty higher? I mean, the marine HQ should be able to recognize his fruit is a logia, and because of this should have made his bounty higher. Yet, they rated him the lowest of the shichibukai. Why? If they there is no known weakness for Logias, than why look at Croc and rate him less than Moria or Donflamino? Just having a logia should be an automatic 300-500 million bounty. It doesn't make sense.
So, end rant. To summarize, there's no reason that Gear 2 wouldn't give Luffy more of an advantage in a rematch, though admittedly with Croc there is always a chance of death. Gear 2 however, makes that chance smaller. Also, I'm greatly suspicious of the overall strength of the logia in the world.