The only specials I've seen that really matter in pve is the Titan shield and the SunSinger revive. You do more weapon damage than a golden gun at high levels and Titan smashing yourself into a mob of high levels can equal death. Also every time we die we learn something, doesn't take a full wipe to do it. I really don't know who you have been grouping with, but it sounds like they pissed in your cornflakes.