First of all: !PIZZA and !PGM

Good and consistent article! And again sad to read! :(
-My remarks:

Switzerland or Japan

I think (ok know) Japan beat (not so long ago) World Champion Germany in this match.
Switzerland did fairly good in one of the last European Championships.
So there is still hope for you! :D

That is just gambling.

That is true, but also part of the thrill in trading card games. And that is how it is and always was ever since someone started to print sports images on paper: Sheer luck! ;)
But as long as trading card games are there a more consistent tactic-oriented approach would be to ignore the first market and go straight for the second market. I know there are some Splinterlands players completely ignoring the first market and they are quite successful with it following a consistent strategy of purchases.

Not once. I have opened about 80 packs in Rising Star. Not only have I never gotten a Legendary, I have never even gotten an Epic card.

Same here, but the drop rates in Rising Star are really mean! ;)