That gold feathers can be turned into silver feathers or that recruiters get silver feathers to begin with. My recruiter is a little upset that all he can really buy is paints, but I can buy Ironworks gear and weapons? I think 1 gold feather should equal 5 silver feathers.
And I think it's a little unfair that old characters can't receive the silver feathers, only new characters. Not everyone levels up that fast in the few trial month.