Why side with a faction in Destiny?

Destiny Factions

So you've reached level 32, decked out in full raid gear with that choice favourite exotic of yours, rocking that one primary gun you use all the time. So what does Destiny have left to offer? My guess is everyone who has reached end game has done their fair share of grinding and loot farming and you know how to speed-run a strike in at least 3 seconds. Is that XP just going to waste of fully-upgraded gear, of being poured uselessly into the vanguard? You should sign with a faction! 

Destiny has three main factions (excluding Vanguard and Crucible). They are Future War Cult, Dead Orbit and the prestigious New Monarchy. Factions offer you special weapons, armour, class-specific items and emblems as rewards for gaining XP with them. You do this by purchasing a class item that you can wear (for example for Hunter class buy a cloak) and while wearing it all your XP will be diverted to levelling up you faction rank. More recent updates mean you can now also be rewarded with faction shaders, ships and crucible commendations. Each faction stands for a certain moral or code, try pick one that best suits you. Or maybe you just like the gear better.

Future War Cult sports garish yellow and purple colours, and is governed by Lakshimi-6, a female Exo who can be found selling FWC gear near the shipwright in the Tower. While the origins of the Future War Cult are greatly debated, their mark has been found on ancient chambers and encampments throughout the system, dating them back to the late Golden Age. Though their secrets are vast, they have proven indispensable in our struggle against the Darkness, earning them power and respect in the City Consensus and among Guardians. 

"There is no future but now. No truth but war."

Dead Orbit is well-renowned for having awesome shaders. Cue Batman shouting "does it come in black?". They have some pretty decent weapons too, draw your eyes to the rocket launcher 'Exodus plan' that speeds reload to half a second, vital when using a heavy weapon. Dead Orbit's theology has developed from mere fatalism into an obsession with worlds beyond Earth. Now their focus is on the building of a starfaring fleet, cobbled together from the ashes of our past and the spoils of war. Arach Jalaal is the spokesperson and vendor for Dead Orbit in the Tower, and can be found skulking about under the stairs, again near the shipwright.

"The Traveller is not our only salvation. Another future lies out among the light of other stars."

I am allowed to be biased here, New Monarchy is by far the most supreme of the factions. I hear you like the colour red? well lets make everything red because that's bad ass. I hear you like high-power balanced weapons that not just look cool but are in cases better than some exotics? Executor Hideo is happy to meet your acquaintance in their huge faction lounge right next to the speaker himself, we've got comfy couches and a nice fire to gather around. What was that Dead Orbit? I can't hear you sitting over there in your corner under the stairs. The New Monarchy rose from the ashes of the Faction Wars with a simple, inclusive guiding tenet: "Together we will rise."
Leery of the fragile state of the City's politics, the New Monarchy maintains a watchful eye on the Speaker, the Consensus, and the Vanguard, seeking the leadership that will properly reign over the City and return our civilization to its Golden Age splendour. If that leadership cannot be found, then it must be created.

"Hope will be born from the collective triumphs of the king in us all."

So choose wisely guardian, and don the respective gear of your chosen faction with pride. You can switch your allegiance at any time by simply swapping your class item, however it's better to level up one single tier to reach high-level gear. I've been with New Monarchy since around level 22-ish, and am getting shaders and guns with every package now. Siding up with a faction gives you new incentive to carry on playing after you've done everything, keep that adventure alive and try to boost your faction to it's highest standing. 

Personally I would love a feature in the tower where you could see the total XP for each faction per week and the one with the highest at the end gave out some sort of reward to its loyal patrons. 

So what faction are you signing up with, and how will it change how you look and play?