The gloves still make you equip them to activate. I don't know about the robe, but I know Hood said you could click the stick from inventory (not tested on a class not-listed though).
Basically you were able to click manaflare 2 (or 3 if you had CT robe) from inventory for melee. Everytime you proc'd a DD it would add the manaflare proc and you would cut through mobs like hot butter.
Is there a way to tell which mobs you haven't killed and which ones you have to get in? Some are flagged that shouldn't be, and some are not flagged that should be...