I won't speak for anyone but myself here, but if you agree, like it or say so:

Given the way the Relic/Zodiac Saga weapons are meant to ultimately be the best, even at times edging out Coil/Raid weapons like it is now, I'd like it if the Gerolt Masterwork weapons were also able to be continuously upgraded. NOT through mindless RNG grinds, NOT through expensive materia melds, but through challenges and item aquisition (think original Relic quest/Rowena tokens, etc.)

Look at it like this: I have a Rosenbogen. Already, I had to upgrade it by gathering the tokens (mostly restricted by time/tome caps, much like Zenith), and a UAT which I got from ST but would have happily challenged Turn 7 for (I like Coil. Seriously.) To get those items, I had to do much more than grind, and for that reason, I'm attached to my Rosenbogen, much like I was originally attached to my Relic Zenith. It may not be the best Bard weapon, but it's MY weapon that I worked for, and though it may not hold the weight or importance of the Relic/Zodiac Saga weapons, it's still equivalent (roughly) to a Novus, therefore it's useful.

Do not make me have to throw that time and effort away.

I'll be brutally honest: I don't like the Relic/Zodiac Saga. I particularly hate it. I disagree with both the Atma portion and how it was handled by the devs, Animus just felt like a lengthy to-do list, and an uninspired one at that, and I personally have no clean words for the Novus portion of it. Nexus at least generates interest in running other content again after the Hunts, but not really in a good way. But, grind culture is grind culture. Good for some, but not for many.

As of now I feel like there's no point nor reward to being skilled or taking on greater challenges, especially if the long, easy road that is Zodiac Saga will only produce similar if not greater rewards than taking on the game's other challenges/raids. And to use Yoshida's "Theme Park" metaphor again - Why should I bother riding the thrill rides if the Merry-Go-Round will just give me the same result? Thing is, I LIKE the thrill rides. I LIKE the challenge, and while I speak for myself, I know I'm not alone in liking them.

As it stands, I have an Artemis Bow Atma gathering dust in my retainer's inventory. As a Zenith, it meant a lot to me, but the Atma and everything after completely devalued it to me. I have no intention of upgrading it, and I think of discarding it every time I see it. But my Rosenbogen? I love it. I think it's hideous, but I won't glamour it. It's my souvenir picture from the thrill rides I've experienced. It's my T-Shirt that says I took on a challenge (greater than Zodiac) and conquered it. I want to keep it. I would love to see it made better and stronger along with me. And from a lore standpoint, it's an original weapon made by the master craftsman that originally restored the relic in the first place. By that logic, it should mean something. For those of us stuck in the middle of Zodiac and high end raid weapons (destined to only be eclipsed by relic anyways), don't take away a potentially great alternative. Don't ruin our theme park experience.