I like the way the new WoW expansion is handling their artifact weapon system. Every class gets a unique quest that unlocks a unique base weapon. Then as you play and earn xp through various things the weapon gets more powerful and unlocks new abilities/stats.

It's much more exciting to see your weapon get more powerful as you go and leveling it doing things you want to do ingame. Farming Alexander 800 (!) times and then being given a weapon just feels dull and like I am trying to climb too high of a wall. I will pass.