I feel like the old system being brought back would allow more build crafting options which I believe is the way you’re trying to go with destiny as a whole. Maybe make all exotics drop orbs regardless if they have a catalyst or not because they are exotic weapons after all. Just a thought.
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I bet the reason they changed it was due to the Echo of Starvation fragment which grants Devourer from picking up orbs. As long as there are fragment buffs tied to orbs its not going to change back to the way it was.