As far as earning anything: 1. Although Strange Coins are a guarantee from weekly heroic, they are earned in the sense that a paycheck is earned for going to work, therefore you did earn them. 2. As far as purchasing items from Xûr with aforementioned Strange Coins, the purchased item is earned in the sense that a pair of new sneakers are earned when purchased, therefore they are not earned. 3. As far as decrypting an engram, that has a random drop rate, at a random location and time, with a random chance of being anything, that item is earned in the sense that finding money in the ground is earning it, therefore it isn't earned. 4. As far as decrypting an engram, with a random chance of getting a specific item, purchased from Xûr, using motes of light that truly are earned, like a paycheck is, and then getting an item that you might use, such as the Heart of the Praxic Fire chest armor in my case just last week, only to have Xûr finally sell it, with slightly better stats this week, is.... well that's just blind ironic luck.... such is my life.... My stance on this is very clear: You earn currency, you buy items or else you get lucky and are awarded them... not one single item in this game that can be purchased is actually earned. TL; DR : Strange Coins = Earned Motes of Light = Earned Commendations = Earned Exotic Engram = Purchased Heavy Synthesis = Purchased/Awarded Weapons = Purchased/Awarded Armors = Purchased/Awarded Special cases: Strangers Rifle = Awarded Murmur = Awarded Khvostov 7G-02 = Awarded