Currently 150-170 hosts some of the hardest mob combinations in the entire game, not to mention the new hard hitting nemesis are all in there. Some combo like anesteria and alexander work so synergistically with each other that if you got debuffed then meteored it is pretty much a garentee death. Hence it is only reasonable that we can get as much help as we can on these hard waves that currently only some build can reliably complete.
I am absolutely fine with the gear reward system, but i feel the tribute award for 170 is quite punishing, considering you are likely need to renew your buffs or buy them at 150, yet the awarded tribute cannot sustain that currently nor is it anywhere near able for you to repeat 150-170. It’d be very rewarding to player who beat 170 if the tribute is restored to 100.