I never said there should not be end game content. I will eventually get there albeit a ways down the road. When Legendary Droaam was its own update I thought it was a nice addition even though as stated I am not at the phase of the game yet. I did not complain that endgame was getting something out of the update that I could not use. I was genuinely happy for those players that could run them.
Yes, hunting the illithid is open to all that run reaper but any rewards from the event are out of reach unless you are able to run the legendary challenging quests that are unlocked. So if anything non-end game players can help unlock the rewards but can not partake in them. Hopefully this will change in the future and the items will be available from all quest regardless of level.
That is were the exclusion comes in. How hard would it have been to have a heroic version of those same 4 quests?
Since the cards are apparently not level capped they can be added as drops in the heroic version as well. Then everyone could share in the rewards.
I can only assume reaper was used due to its lockout mechanic so higher level player could not solo low level quests during the event to unlock anything. Trouble is there are players who do not run reaper. I am not one of them although I stay under R4 currently.
To my knowledge there was never a requirement to run reaper for anything except reaper points. All other quests, sagas, story arcs, gear farming can be completed without every running reaper. Until this event which you are required to run reaper and then it is only to unlock something for other if you are not ready for end game. Add to this the fact that the champions that appear while the event is running are way stronger than anything in the quest normally at the same level. Is it so difficult to see the issue here.
