Aside from the exotic ascension I definitely think you're on to something. If you look at the drawing boards only the exotic weapons have their designation in front of the weapon name.
Example:
Closing time: exotic sniper rifle
Duke mk. 44: hand cannon
See how the duke doesn't have a designation before it? No basic, common or superior. So your ascension, atleast in the sub exotic stage seems likely.
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Yep, that was certainly something I had noticed :)