I'm at HT IX and new season incoming 30th, I was maxed with affinities at HT VII iirc. So with the extra AS (affinity solvent) I think we'd need a shop to buy something if we're maxed, perhaps give us a chance to buy something we can help our alliance members and friends only or codes that can be given out, maybe for new players only. So it'd make us to give to the community rather than just trying to get everything for ourselves.
And if it's a gift to some new player reward the gift giver with something that would be useful for the gift giver.