If you didnt get synergy augments you'd have trial of magians instead and that would entail trading in a new drop from a new level 99 popped chariot in each salvage area and you'd need 200 of them to upgrade.
Same as before when they added relic+2 they said:
Two Option:
1) Really good potential enhancements but enhancements are random through synergy, though you can redo them indefinitely.
2) Trade drop items with magian trials for static bonuses that are meh at best.
Honestly augments is better. Random isnt even that bad considering its a low level synergy and as a 80 synergist myself I've gotten the best HQ3 stats on most sky/abjuration gear in like 1-30 tries at most and tatters are cheap. Considering that theyre raising the synergy cap and the augment level for synergy is quite low (20-40) the HQ rate will be even better with the new synergy cap.