That makes sense. I agree that opening card packs and whatnot was part of the excitement and draw. I wonder if there's a way to get the best of both worlds. Maybe a (one-time) paid game rather than free to play, and still have packs and rarity and whatnot, but lock packs behind game experience/quests/challenges/winning/etc, rather than having them available to buy.
I know that probably wouldn't be a popular model for companies trying to wring out as much money as possible from the almost-basically-gambling model where you can buy packs, but I feel like as a player I'd like that a lot more!
Too many things, sporadically!
I tend to hop between different craft types randomly, depending on my current interest. But some of the ones I've enjoyed at various times the last year or so are crocheting (learning how to make little stuffed animals right now!!), watercolor and gouache painting, putting miniature kits together, origami, simple jewelry making, pottery, etc! :)