Simple idea to allow anyone to achieve max level and take the hurt out of the losing older gear. Make Motes of light count toward your light level. Every Mote of light you carry in your inventory adds 1 light to your progression. This would be even better if you had more uses for the Motes of light so you have to decide if you can aford to spend them if you are using them to reach a higher light level. Since you earn motes after so much experience as if gaining a level and by various other way it would allow a way to level independent of finding the highest level gear or cushion your level as you raise up gear that needs to be leveled and upgraded. this way you can use any gear you like and have fun playing with and still eventually reach the level cap so you are not locked from all the content, since bungie seems so set on only releasing end game content that is substantial. Remember legendary and exotic gear give other passive benefits that would make them desirable still over someone using more common gear.