1. Apparently you missed the new upgrade materials that lets you upgrade exotics....and possibly legendaries even further. 2. You only need to be max level for doing the raids on Hard Mode. So you only need the "raid gear" for doing the raids. For all other actiivities you can keep a collection of different exotic and legendary armors that fit your preferred playstyle, and then customize with your preferred shader... 3. Bungie never *promised* you that everyone would look different. They said from Day One that they wanted gear to be a readily identifiable badge of honor. If I run into a Warlock who is wearing Fragment of the Prime (bond) or Cuirass of the Hezen Lords, I know I'm looking at someone who has beaten the raid. If is seem someone carrying Thorn, I know I'm looking at someone who has defeated Xyor. If see a raid helmet, I know I'm looking at someone who's beaten the raid on Hard. As the game evolves, there almost certainly be multiple sets of raid armors, that you can then freely mix-and-match for a more individualized look when you aren't trying to do the most current raid.