Those rewards won't be useful outside the raid, the perks for the weapons and armor aren't universal. You can't take Crota raid gear into the vault of glass and be more efficient than one equipping vault of glass gear.

I'n talking helmet man, that would allow him to equip any other exotic while still being 32.. Also you're telling me black hammer, song of ir yut, light of the abyss, hunger of crota and sword breaker are useless outside the crota raid?? After the recent update you can flatten praetorians in 2-3 shots with sword breaker, black hammer has massive impact, light of the abyss is good in crucible and hunger of crota is basically only second to gjallarhorn in pve, i'd rather not willingly miss out on all that just for the sake of not having to kill crota?

Iron banner weapons one ups the raid weapons simply because you could change their perks, have you seen what their void shotgun does to praetorians? Their sniper has the highest impact and so does their fusion rifle. Along with their hand cannon. So no, raid weapons aren't amongst all weapons, they're great but, missing out on them isn't an issue. I have my ice breaker to replace black hammer. Peruns fire to replace the fusion rifle. Also, feiwinters lie to replace their shotgun.