I have the actual game guide for Destiny. The description for shaders says that there are more common shaders that will effect most armor, and more rare shaders that will only affect the top tier armor. I can see why they locked colors for exotic armor. It lets people know right away what they're dealing with. I do think some of them could be more flexible. For example, my Hunter Crest of Alpha Lupi is perfect. The central armor and wolf design stay the same, the rest changes with the shader. Or Skull of Dire Ahamkara. The skull stays the same, the actual armor changes. But I don't like how my Mask of the Third Man works. It's practically unaffected by shaders, when the upper Hive face and eyes should be static and the armor shaded, like Ac Symbiote.

Yeah and then Bungie announces that it's a PlayStation exclusive... Bummer

It will be playstation exclusive

No, exotic shaders should have armor permutations. Think Halo: Reach. Inclement Weather for example... That's an exotic shader right there ;)

Only if we get to test it out first before we lock it in so we know it will look like what we are picturing.

Hmm sounds interesting. Perhaps the same could be done to weapons?