Anything I get after I turn on the ps3 is earned.

The dictionary defines "earn" as - "to receive as return for effort and especially for work done or service rendered" and/or "to make worthy of or entitled or suited to" In relation to destiny, either putting many hours of play into getting RNG gear or putting fewer hours into earning "known" rewards (eg: coins from weekly strikes) are both correctly labeled as "earning". The second the title screen pops up, you are "earning" things. What you're earning will differ; it could be the chance for RNG gear, or the bounty rewards that level your character and weapons, or it could be coins to spend on Xursday.

Where's the option for both?

I paid $60 for the game, powered on my gaming device and inserted the disc. Then I have played for many hours with many people. I have earned everything that has been bought or dropped. If you have also done the same, you have earned all the drops.

If you worked a full time or part time job and paid money out of your pocket that You WORKED for to but this game, you didn't earn it! Really people!

If your playing a video game then you earn everything you get in that game by playing it. playing=earning The more you play the more you get, simply put.

Both

You all need to take a break and go outside. Go play with your dog or fly a kite or something. You're all forgetting that this is just a game, made for entertainment purposes.

Exotic bounty

I personally believe simply obtaining the items is earning it. Xur, to buy things from him, you must play the game, either doing the Weekly Heroic, or spamming the rest of the game, getting absolute butt loads (hilariously enough, that IS a form of measurement) of blues and the occasional purple, to watch them turn into things you don't want or can't use at that time, being motes and coins and ascendant energy and whatnot. I don't get this stupid discrimination between sources. Who cares if it was bought by Xur, they still had to play the game. Who gives a -blam!- if he played IB to get his stuff, he either had to be persistent (which given the glitchiness of the Raids, Persistence is key) or be damn good at it to get the stuff. Who gives a thrice damned -blam!- where the item came from, you -blam!-ing ponces, as long as they have it and know how to use it.

Receiving the weapon, regardless of its source.

Both one is more luck based though

earn [ ərn ] VERB verb: earn · third person present: earns · past tense: earned · past participle: earned · present participle: earning (of a person) obtain (money) in return for labor or services: "they earn $35 per hour" synonyms: be paid · take home · More (of an activity or action) cause (someone) to obtain (money): "this latest win earned them $50,000 in prize money" (of capital invested) gain (money) as interest or profit.[b][u] gain or incur deservedly in return for one's behavior or achievements:[/b][/u] "through the years she has earned affection and esteem" synonyms: deserve · merit · More antonyms: lose

If a player completes an activity and is rewarded a weapon or amor piece, that player earned it. If a player stands idly while his/her teammates complete the activity and is rewarded a weapon or amor piece, it is considered that the player did not earned the reward given to him/her for not completing and participating in the activity. If a player is rewarded an item that is currency in the game, he/she has a right to purchase any item in the game that is available. Just like in real life, if a person completes an activity or job and is rewarded in money or a prize, that person earned the reward. If a person does nothing while others do and is still rewarded money or a prize then it is unfair to those who worked hard on the activity, the person did not earn or deserve a reward. If a person finishes a day at work and receives a paycheck, then that person has earned the reward for their work and has the right to purchase things like a car or house. Did that person not earned his car or house for working and receiving money? Just like if a player completes a weekly heroic and is rewarded in strange coins, did the player not earned a ice breaker or obsidian mind for their work and dedication? I believe so, but if those who claim to have earned an exotic item or anything worth while for doing hardly any work at the game clearly did not earned or deserve it. If a player is rewarded icebreaker for getting 2-14 in the crucible, that player shouldn't have received it. If a player buys a weapon other players have worked hard for, it is still that they have earned it by being rewarded marks or coins after an activity. It may be RNG but if a player completes an activity, beginning to end then clearly he/she earned it.

Hey, wait for Xurday with this

Neither