CLEON, MERRY CHAMPION Doublestrike static on a card is something I like to see, and you can have your spells that target Cleon essentially get a weak cantrip
Tournament organizers who permit limited proxying (for instance, allowing proxies for a few restricted Vintage staples) frequently report higher event participation, which can offset any short-term reduction in single-card sales with sustained community growth and repeat customers for sealed product and accessories
But the way this card made players feel targeted, how it caused such immediate despair and hopelessness, reminds us that lock cards are frequently the most loathed designs in Magic even more so in Commander, where their uneven, fun-limiting potential runs directly counter to the ethos of the format
Well, technically it is, but it also gives options for those of us who love smushing different creature decks together
But really, this is all about the Johnny/Spikeesque exchange of one resource (life) for another (mana)