I think the impact of removing the marks for materials is even worse than most people noticed. I mostly used it to buy Vanguard weapons (note, not faction weapons, as I don't like PvP) so that I can dismantle them for ascendant energy. It was the only reliable way to get ascendant energy to upgrade. Now with this path is gone, gaining marks is at a snail pace, making the grind even harder, since it's the only option left. I guess I have to kill Septics-Prime a hundreds time more, am I the only one not looking forward to that?