I don't understand why people think they can use the same exact gear throughout the full ten years of Destiny. This is a loot-based game. When you already have a gun for every situation, the only way to make you want to gather new weaponry is to make your old set ineffective. I understand it feels like the year of grinding was for naught, but it really wasn't. You've gained skill, figured out your playstyle, and you still have your trusty weapons to continue your legacy in the Crucible. The Darkness has grown stronger as well, and it can't be stopped without upgrading your arsenal with newly discovered (or perhaps recovered from the Golden Age) technologies.