I've been running around using the Starfire Protocol exotic on my Warlock, and I can't help thinking that it's exotic perk is kind of pathetic. The perk only applies if you're a sunsinger AND you're using fusion grenades, at which point you're granted an additional grenade cooldown. Meanwhile, the Claws of Ahamkara grant both subclasses an additional melee charge, regardless of what perks you use.

I was skeptical but picked these up anyway because my other "new" exotic is the obsidian mind. Thus far I have enjoyed the additional heavy weapon ammo (yay gjallarhorn!) as I had been missing it from my VoG boots. I have not quite unlocked the additional grenade, so I can't say for sure yet, but I'm hopeful. I usually run fusion grenades with sunsinger (80% of the time in PvE that's what I'm doing) so it will work out great for me.

I don't expect to use it much for PvP, I'm sure it's less helpful there than the obsidian mind. Though an extra sticky grenade could come in handy there too.

I've been running around using the Starfire Protocol exotic on my Warlock, and I can't help thinking that it's exotic perk is kind of pathetic. The perk only applies if you're a sunsinger AND you're using fusion grenades, at which point you're granted an additional grenade cooldown. Meanwhile, the Claws of Ahamkara grant both subclasses an additional melee charge, regardless of what perks you use.

I bought it somehow processing that it was for the Firebolt grenades. There is already a perk that doubles your grenades, and the only reason not to use that is if you prefer setting enemies on fire, which the Fusion grenade doesn't benefit from at all in the Crucible, so there's no reason to use an entire exotic to enable this ability. If the Starfire also applied to the Firebolt, then you'd have an exotic worth writing home about... I'm waiting for that one chest that essentially gives Sunsingers the Bloom ability (Brimstone doesn't quite do it for me)...

This seems to be a theme across other pieces of exotic armour- the more specific and exclusive the perk, the less desirable the exotic is (Young Ahamkara's Spine is another great example). Is this intentional? Are some exotics simply designed to be superior to others from an objective standpoint?

I felt that way about Voidfang Vestments for a long while, although that has a sub-perk that benefits Sunsingers as well.

I would love to see Bungie re-evaluate and overhaul these sometime in the future. I'm okay with an exotic favouring a specific subclass, but it should complement someone's playstyle, not try to define it.

Thoughts/rebuttals are welcome :D

Mostly agree, though I can see why they avoid too many one-size-fits-all exotic pieces.

This seems to be a theme across other pieces of exotic armour- the more specific and exclusive the perk, the less desirable the exotic is (Young Ahamkara's Spine is another great example). Is this intentional? Are some exotics simply designed to be superior to others from an objective standpoint?

Helm of Saint 14 is a beast in PvE. You can either go in alone and get close to the baddies, or hang back and then use the blinding bubble shield to save the day while getting those revives. This exclusive for defender Titans is a must have exotic. The Striker Titan's exotics I don't like much though.