Post by MasterOutlaw
Epicurean applies to any Pandaren, regardless of class. You can't apply it specifically for arguing whether or not Monk is over or underpowered since other races can be Monks as well and they don't get the same 2x bonus. Unless you're arguing how early Monks as a whole gain access to foods with meaningful stats (starting at level 20 vs everyone else who I don't believe gain str/int/agi foods until the 50s) in which case you have a point.
However, that benefit quickly peters out considering how fast you level and the Monk-only food eventually becomes inferior to easily accessible alternatives (compare
Tender Baked Turtle and
Skewered Eel to
Tiger Brew of Serenity for example). I hesitate to call it much of a benefit in the first place since foods while leveling are largely a placebo when it comes to your perception on how much they affect your leveling speed. You aren't going to be leveling leaps and bounds faster because of a small agility bonus.
Now the
real "overpowered" benefit Monks gain is
Enlightenment which stacks with other bonuses like guild perks, heirlooms, and holiday bonuses, meaning you're typically outleveling a zone before you even get halfway through it.
As for your other question, Runeforging for Death Knights is all I can think of that would be comparable, but that's a tough sell since Death Knights start at level 55 vs. a Monk's level 1 and by then everyone else can use (vastly inferior, until much later) enchants too.