No one is ever going to opt to be less powerful.

Powerful in what way

No player is going to opt to stick with year one items because it will mean deliberately choosing a lower attack rating, defense rating, and light level. In theory, sure it doesn't much matter in Crucible or patrol, but in practice, it's highly unlikely that, in a game that is all about advancement and being as powerful as possible, players will be satisfied accepting a handicap when they don't have to.

I often use weapons that are not the most powerful. Simply because they have the appropriate properties to take out the intended target. Other times I'll bust something out just for fun. (Like hard light) [actually super use full on vex gates as it will damage the gate behind the spawn too] None of my purple items are maxed out with those orbs. .. and I get the most kills in poe. . So telling me not everyone uses the most powerful thing.. isn't much of a argument because I feel otherwise right .. It's just a different option. My point of view

Your experience isn't so different from my own, but I think it's important to remember I'm generalizing. Of course some players are still going to rely on their year one weapons for a time, but I also think it's important to remember that will expire as Bungie continues to increase the year two tools power. If we're generalizing, two things: 1). RPG players are notably numbers-oriented. They're going to do the math, and they're going to be focused on the attack ratings and light levels being lower than if they just use the new thing. Most RPG players contend that most MMORPGs operate in such a way (although it's a practice that those games have moved away from in recent years, but whatever), but there will be RPG players who have formed bonds with such things in this game that they never did in an MMORPG. That's because Destiny is primarily a shooter, and there's a lot more to the toys in this game than aesthetic. These players will feel a compulsion to abandon their old stuff for the new stuff, and they're not going to like it. 2). There's a point in the not-to-distant future where those instances where those certain guns can still excel will no longer be relevant. For instance, the Crota's End weapons have the Hive Disruptor perk, so if you're going up against a lot of Hive majors, it might still be advantageous to use these weapons. Thing is, maybe not after TTK, but maybe after the next bump, that Hive disruptor perk will be wholly irrelevant in the face of weapons that have the attack rating of 431. We see it now. If you are going through the Vault of Glass and have unascended VoG weapons, the increased oracle damage isn't worth it in the face of even 331 damage weapons, let alone 365. So the point here is, while some weapons may still continue to be relevant some of the time after TTK, the thing we really lament is knowing our favorite stuff is being wholly phased out. If we can go back to talking about personal experiences, I'm not even concerned about my Fatebringer or my Word of Crota. I'm concerned about my Three Little Words, Secret Handshake, and Against All Odds. I've formed a bond with these items that goes way beyond their relative performance. However, I'm not going to use them if they so drastically underperform that it's just not worth it to handicap myself in such a way. I've already noticed that in my own behavior with Shadow Price and The Devil You Know, two guns that I really fell in love with and have sat in my vault since December. And to me, that's a shame.

I mean. . Do you consider green or blue items anymore? Now that The dark below and How Are Available. I understand that you are making a general statement. But if it doesn't apply to you or I. . It doesn't seem very general right.. Players are going to want the superior weapon obviously. But perhaps new weapons work with armor as well- or the perks are more fun or noticeable then the current ones. It's far too soon to say that the current weapons will be ineffective. But we can say for sure that people will generally prefer the new weapons.

[quote]I mean. . Do you consider green or blue items anymore?[/quote] Not since September 2014, and I consider that a shame and wasteful game design. Some of those early weapons were fun to use. [quote]I understand that you are making a general statement. But if it doesn't apply to you or I. . It doesn't seem very general right..[/quote] That's the thing. It does apply to me. I personally hate this decision. Subjectively, I dislike that my favorite weapons can't be my favorite weapons anymore. Objectively, I think forcing adoption of new weapons pose absolutely no benefit over empowering players to take their favorite stuff with them if they so choose. There is no positive in Bungie continuing to force us to play the game the way they want us to play it, especially in the face of something that is so unpopular among players. They should seek to empower players to write they're own legend. After all, that was their original promise. This decision violates that.