Crafting, i.e. collection patrol missions now add the items to your inventory and you can either use them for the rep or to make weapons. Three tables in front of the gunsmith one each for primary, secondary and heavy and you can utilize the scavenged components there. Because that's what we are doing right? Scavenging the ruins why not build from what we go collect. Perhaps the "go here and scout" patrol missions have a chance to give you designs you take to the gunsmith to unlock. Gunsmith rep can reward us with rare components and completed construction can gift gunsmith rep. This can be a way to make patrols meaningful, so down time messing around can have a long lasting affect, give us a chance to stock up on the weapon type Rng has punished us on. And most importantly maybe if we get special weapon skins we can say we built our favorite sniper rifle like a true badass