Seriously all they need to do if they want cores to stay is lower the cost to masterwork.
Instead of the extreme progressive tax they should lower it to 1 core per upgrade and the community would be satisfied, given everything else stays the same.
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Ogma: Destroyer of Worlds
Pursue happiness with diligence. - old
1 core to infuse, 1 core for each level of upgrade. This would alleviate most of the community strife concerning this issue.