This was a deliberate choice to keep the format more affordable, increase deck diversity by making it harder to splash multiple colors, and improve the pace of play by reducing shuffling
Countless iconic cards that would be included in Magic s official release originated in this phase, and the Gamma cards are some of the best-documented, as the original sheet placement is known to collectors
Syr Konrads excellent value is responsible for their many reprints
This'll be a two mana 2/1 that effectively draws you a card most of the time, and that's really good
Whenever you came to the game, whichever variant of a blue 1/1 that cant be blocked you prefer, they serve the same role: cheap bodies to exploit cards like Edric, Spymaster of Trest that reward you for dealing combat damage or a place to slap counters, equipment, auras, and whatever else you want to buff your army with