Better to have a subset of weapons and armor, call them "exotics" for example. Those weapons and armor can be unique and grow with guardians through each expansion without needed to balance every single new weapon against every single weapon from the game's past. Other games leave weapons behind because it is [i]exponentially more difficult[/i] to maintain that balance with each batch that is released. Would you prefer there be fewer new items in favor of another ascension system? We all know how satisfying gearing on House of Wolves has been. Oh wait, it hasn't been satisfying at all! Once we ascended our favorites there is nothing to work towards.