RNG makes this a game where almost nothing is earned. When you buy from Xur you basically have earned it because you had to do tasks to earn the coins to purchase the weapons. When an exotic is randomly rewarded I wouldn't say you earned it. If you are the least valuable player in a crucible match, but you get an exotic as a reward, did you actually earn that piece or did rng roll in your favor? The same question could be asked when attempting a nightfall. I've ran nightfalls as a two man team or solo and have had others join the game while we were landing the finishing hit on a boss. I get rewarded shards or coins while the guy who jumped in at the last second, without landing a hit, gets an exotic. He didn't earn shit. I have almost 400 hours on my Warlock and still haven't been blessed with the glory of Gjallarhorn or Praxic Fire. You better believe I'm gonna buy them shits if Xur ever sells them. If they drop before then, I didn't earn them, RNGsus decided to give me a break. "Nothing is earned, everything is permitted." - RNG's Creed