I'll like to see a post where you compare the value of the cards you've bought with the initial investment cost. I think this might determine whether these new generation cards will be good, investment wise.
If I had the money, I'll be buying the packs just out of curiosity, excitement and support of the game.

I built my CL by buying packs, and it was fun. I think if money is a constraints, then we will have no choice but to buy individual cards off the market.

About Wild Pass you are right, it is a high seasonal cost and requires a good amount of staked SPS to cover it.
I started in the Wild today with XBOT, I am curious to see the results at the end of the season

This is what I've discovered. I don't have enough Staked SPS anymore, so I'm thinking I'll have to start playing survival mode instead rather than paying for WILD pass. I'll like to see how your experiment goes.