It's not xur's fault exotics don't feel exotic. It's because the main way to earn exotics is random chance. It's because bungie limits their potential in fear of them being OP. and it's because there are not many exotics to begin with. In my ideal world exotics would be more powerful. Legendaries would be more legendary. The exotic vendor would only show on the weekends that the community passed the community goal. We'd have more exotics. The main way to earn an exotic would be through bounties. You'd earn the right to take a bounty by completing the nightfall for the week. Raid bosses would also have a unique exotic and a chance to drop the right to go after an exotic bounty. Nightfalls, strike bosses, end game content can still randomly give you an exotic. Xur would make exotics cost more on average. Xur also could "reforge" exotic armor and weapons for motes of light. You could also buy strange coins from him via a decent amount of glimmer. Lastly trading would exist. This way the game has an economy that gives things worth. The exotic vendor is "earned." And the main way for obtaining an exotic would be through the toughest content which is a story worth telling. No exotic would feel not like an exotic. As destiny currently is we need the vendor. Because the only other way is through random. And people dislike random enough. If the est gear was only obtained that way people would quit.