Eh, I can see it both ways really.
When they started taking about it and said they were only with you so long and you could not change the gear, I was a bit annoyed with that because I do agree, not very helpful or meaningful if they only benefit you for a short time and are not modifiable.

However, I think "gating" them behind an ascendancy and then allowing them to be tradable in a way is an interesting solution to them being way too OP back in the actual merc league.

Mercs needed the changes or else everyone would just be running doryanis again.

exactly this

Crab totems have everyone in a tizzy. Im definitely going to be trying them out 🦀🦀🦀

Wait I thought you could, or was it farming merc with gear you’d want on them only

That was during mercenary League. These new balance changes are making that no longer possible except on an ascendancy built around mercenaries.