I always liked the idea of making individual baddie groups have different rewards. For example. the easy 5th column in bricktown at lvl around 32 or CoT's in FF would give less xp per minion/lt/boss than lets say Rikti, Devoured Earth, Carnies or malta group. Where ever it may be, missions founders falls, pregrine, hazard zone. ...
Baucause it is true that at 36-40'ish the Freakshow in crey's folley around crash site entrance are very easy and can be taken down much faster and more efficient than other baddie groups at the same level. And anyone who is a little more XP hungry would then move to the docks in pregrine hunting Nemesis's for the next few lvl's and only do missions for some variety and not because of the actual purpose for missions.