I think they should be removed - there's a reason why there's the daily heroic story as well as public events (and the Vault of Glass?). Last week I was level 29 and did the nightfall for the first time with my level 28 friend (which I think is quite impressive considering its a level 30 strike with modifiers). I got shards and my friend got a duplicate of the few legendaries he has. This week I found someone to do the nightfall with on the forums, again I got shards, maybe Bungie could implement something that stops you getting shards in a row and gives you less chance of a duplicate if you have less legendaries. Yes I am level 30 and need them to level up but if I really wanted them that much I would play the daily heroic every day, and I don't think many people, if any, play the nightfall for ascendant materials. I agree the nightfall is primarily for the buff but players who are below level 31-32 do need the weapons and I think the nightfall should guarantee a legendary maybe a system where you could choose either a smaller buff and guaranteed that you would get no ascendant mats or normal buff but still the chance of ascendant mats.