Have the devs considered that rather than making the new ascended armor and weapons in the conventional sense, they make them the same as ag skin, but instead of changing aesthetics, they change the stats of the item they’re applied to, (increase the stats to ascended) 1 size fits all, where instead of the item is “knights” or “rabid” and simply improves the existing one. they could be made using the t7mats. this would solve most of the issues people are complaining about with transmuting.
Id also recommend that the ascended armor and weapons are slightly easier to obtain than the current trinkets, don’t make them have content specific require meants, just materials that are obtained throughput all content or can be purchased, this will prevent people feeling forced into content and cam gradually upgrade to ascended as they play.