Splinterlands is a disappointment for me. It certainly in pay to win and the pay amount is ever increasing. When I have a look on some discords and see the amount some people are throwing around on a nearly daily basis, I realise that I can never compete and make it in the leagues.

Now you mention that there is a penalty placed on starter cards so that rewards are reduced for each starter card in play too. Ouch.

It's just another money siphon. Kudos to the people who started it all though, it's the only half decent way to collect NFTs if that's what floats your boat.