Devs, Mods, Ninjas, and Community Managers can't say it, but you're idiots.
You really want to leave the Exotics behind? No?
Then you want your exotics maxed to the new level without work, lessening play time and content? No?
Guess you're just an idiot.
[b]Edit[/b]: Here's a good idea, too (from this thread, at that):
LusciousNips34:
People are complaining about the way Bungie has gone about it. They could have just added extra nodes to the gun/armor that would have taken just as much work to upgrade, but no, that would have made too much sense.
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Well, at least then (per your edit) it wouldn't require me to re-unlock the perks that make an exotic good.