Yes, but that is only in the context of an ascension system being available. Most weapons from The Dark Below were disappointing compared to their vanilla equivalents. From faction and Vanguard weapons to raid weapons. However, people used them because they had higher attack. If ascension had existed at The Dark Below, people would have kept using vanilla weapons in most slots, just like they do in House of Wolves. Conversely, if ascension did not exist in HoW, the elemental raid weapons from Skolas would be the most desired PvE weapons in the game and people would be using Queen's weapons and many others.