Yes, but SRL is just another means of obtaining high end gear to assist Guardians in our journey. It was demanded from day 1 of the Alpha. It may not satisfy 100% of the player base, but a good portion want and enjoy it. I highly doubt your paranoia is founded. They have stuff planned. Bungo is a business and they want to maximise profits over the course of the year on their way to Destiny 2. They can't do that with SRL alone.