I also noticed that our daily focus isn't guaranteed to be an option when selecting a team. Did I read that correctly?

I remember the early days when we weren't guaranteed the splinter our daily quest required and it was infuriating to be on a losing streak and wanting to stop but just needing one more win with your quest splinter only to have it absent during selection. I can't imagine a focus being much better.

Having said that, if we can earn focus points regardless of using a focus team, that does seem like a fair trade. I'd like clarity on it, though.

If I have a life focus but don't play a life team I still get points, but what does it look like if I choose dragon every time and use life for support? Will that impact points earned or does a life summoner have to be used to unlock the extra points earned from playin daily focus cards?

If I can play dragons bolstered with my daily focus for a decent bump in earned points I don't think I have any complaints, but if I'm gonna have to grind more to maintain current rewards, which still don't seem comparable to rewards before the shift to focus from quests, I don't really see why I would continue to spend time on it. Seems like it'd be more profitable and far less frustrating to just rent my cards and find other ways to earn and entertain myself.

This brings up another issue. Guilds. Pretty much everyone in my guild has dedicated considerable resources to its growth, such that none of us, I presume, would want to leave and abandon those efforts.

It's an uncomfortable combination of being free to leave anytime, and locked in.

Similar to how mining companies used to own the housing employees resided in, the were free to quit their jobs at any time, but that also meant they'd be homeless by the end of the day. It's not really a choice at all.

Obviously, there are stark differences between the two scenarios, so I'm not trying to draw a direct comparison, but I think it's worth noting that feeling trapped encourages looking for a means of escape. I don't think that's a solid business strategy.