GoingMadlem

I just don't see how that makes it healthy. Doesn't more players = more visibility, more tournaments, and more opportunities?

Competitive play is based on an infrastructure that needs to benefit each level of it

Wizards need to sell packs. Stores need to sell packs and singles. Large events need vendors willing to pay for space. Vendors need singles to be profitable enough to justify their model.

Sell more at a lower price seems to be a pretty staple business model these days. Also, people are always going to want first printings and old art. I mean, the Gutenberg Bible will always be hella expensive even though it happens to be the most reprinted book in history

That's the thing, you don't really sell more at a lower price. You just sell them for less. I don't suddenly need twice as many Blood Crypts when they're $4 than when they're $8. Stores are also shelling out for play space, something most other retail sectors don't do

I've yet to see any data saying that stores don't sell more at lower prices. I've heard the opposite from store owners

If I sell 50% more Blood Crypts at $4 vs $8... I make less money on Blood Crypts. I can sell 4 at $8 each and make $32, or I can expend 50% more effort and sell 6 for $24. As a shopkeeper, I prefer to sell 4 at $8 each.

But that's the thing. You aren't selling six instead of four. You're selling 12. Or 16. In half the time, which also means inventory isn't just sitting and getting stale.