You're right, they shouldn't be the end all be all, but when almost every exotic is outclassed by another weapons in the same category, it's an issue. There's no real point to using them anymore. In year one at least, the exotics could compete, more times than not out competing their counter parts. Now look at it. We have, what? Two exotics that actually see crucible play on a regular basis with fringe uses for everything else? Exotics ARE supposed to be a step up. Something powerful, feels overpowered, but isn't actually so. Case in point; thorn. With its first nerf, it was brought to a level where it was controllable. It couldn't stack the maximum amount of times, and it's exotic perk worked exactly how it was intended. Now, the exotic perk is useless, and will probably continue to be so in RoI. SUROS, Red Death after the pulse rifle nerf, Hawkmoon due to handcannon bloom, Fabian Strategy, and most of the others. If they're going to label exotics as a weapon that's supposed to be the next step up, make then harder to aquire in some sense, and make you jump through these hoops to get them, why make a gun you can buy at a vendor better suited for the same situations as the exotic you made for it? What scout rifle is better for PvE than the original TTK Dead orbit scout, Hung Jury? Triple tap, the mag boost that brought it from 16 to 20, and firefly? Why make Dreg's Promise underperform in every aspect compared to even a BLUE Hakke sidearm? Hawkmoon is completely outclassed by both Finala's Peril AND the Eyasluna. Hereafter is almost useless compared to all of the gunsmith Hakke snipers in the same archetype, and there's no real point in using Zen Meteor over the LDR 5001, Y-09 Longbow Synthesis, 1,000 yard stare, or even the stillpiercer. Jade Rabbit for PS players can easily be replaced by Last Extremity, Cocytus SR4 gunsmith scout, the house of judgement scout (not to be confused with the CoE scout, lethe noblesse), I think it's called hand of judgement? Any handcannon with firefly and outlaw can replace the Ace of Spades. Are you starting to see the pattern, here? I can go on.