The Vet rewards have always been like that, with 'ooo' 'ahhh' powers/rewards at certain tiers and 'meh' rewards at others.
Be thankful the IO license didn't get put at tier 8.
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...that doesn't mean it's not a missed opportunity. These aren't vet rewards anymore, the Premium Reward Levels are to get premium players to spend money. If the top prize is meh, not too many people are gonna care to pay to get it.
Something I noticed when I was a Premium member, the Premium Reward Levels unlock awesome things. Level 4 unlocks the Auction House and the ability to get Merits permanently for free, Level 5 unlocks MMs and Controllers for free, Level 6 unlocks the Mission Creator for free, Level 7 gives you an IO license for free permanently, and Level 8... lets large inspirations drop. That's it.
It just seems a little anticlimatic, and a missed opportunity. I keep hearing that people want to get to Tier 7 because that's the best tier. I haven't heard a single premium player say they want to get to Tier 8.
I don't know what they should add, just that they should add something, otherwise it's like a missed opportunity.