You dont have to. Everything not on the disc is an expansion of the story. Besides they said in the vidocs and pre launch interviews there was no central story. There is no central character. How have people missed this but can sit and say Bungie made all these promises. This game is about what you do in the provided environment not some linear set of activities. The lore is provided if you want it, if not thats fine. Go kill things. Either way all bases are covered. Should the cards be in the game? Yes. Is it really all that important? No. If they're in the game, your character is still standing there motionless while you read the cards, so you're not actively playing the game. If its online you can read the story when you're not able to sit at a console. It keeps you involved when you cant play. That's genius. At lea d t for those of us you dont have all day to sit at a console. When i can play i don't want to read. I want to shoot.