this was super interesting to read. it's really nice to hear a disgruntled player express their opinion in such a direct, measured, clear-minded manner.

i understand your qualms with the game running on ethereum. that being said, it is the most secure blockchain protocol in the world that provides the functionality required by NFTs. and as you alluded to, the downsides to building on ethereum didn't present themselves until the DeFi summer and subsequent skyrocketing gas prices. Immutable X should solve the issues presented by using the ethereum blockchain, and restore the core play-to-earn game loop, without compromising security or transparency. it may be frustrating to wait, but i certainly think the wait will be worth it.

regarding the pay-to-win argument, i found that a bit disingenuous. sure, you can speed up your progress by spending money, as you can in most tcgs! but the card you gave as an example, Echophon, can be earned for free, just by playing the game as you would normally. in addition, there have been many players, including myself, who have made it to the highest rank in the game (mythic) without spending any money on cards. as far as tcgs go, i think gods unchained is very f2p friendly.

the balance, and lack of development, i completely agree with. they have not been great about meeting deadlines, which is a bit more understandable when you consider them pioneering never-before-seen features in a tcg. as for the balance, or lack thereof, i have to say i am a bit disappointed in the balance team lately. they seem to move slowly, and some of the decisions they've made are questionable to say the least. i hope an increasing playerbase and larger data sets can help them make more informed decisions, but that remains to be seen.

all in all, im sorry to hear you wont be playing anymore! and i do hope you give it another try when they launch Immutable X.