I keep going back and forth on this idea, how crafting can be implemented, and here is my (so far) final wish: A new armorer and the expansion of the weaponsmith now includes a rotating group of white and green upgrade parts. These are themed towards the sort of bonuses/upgrades of these items. Common upgrades can add only to white items one 'uncommon' ability or replace the perk of a uncommon item. Rare and legendary perks can be randomly dropped, are located under materials in inventory, and can be decoded at their respective vender. They can also be crafted; one way to be able to craft is gaining the knowledge by deconstructing existing items. You have new ranking for 'crafting' that opens up new types of item perks as you level up. But you have to choose to do this by going to either vender and specifically destroying the item through them. You wouldn't receive materials or glimmer, instead getting exp for your craft. Rarity will affect amount of points you get from each item destruction. At the vender, you have the option of picking an item you are currently carrying. It opens the standard upgrade tree, but when hovering over the perks it shows the list of available mods you know and the cost in materials. Same sort of cost levels to upgrade a weapon or armor with that perk, plus additional costs based on the type of item you are upgrading. Each slot would have a new, enemy- and chest-dropped, material associated with it. Goggles for helmets, servos for legs, high-capacity barrels for heavy weapons, etc. Legendary items could require a Mote on top of standard costs because of the differences in power vs. rares. There can even be random legendary/exotic blueprints that let you, one time, add on a exotic-specific ability to a lesser piece.