Players appreciate the simplicity of its design and the raw power it brings to any team
White Weenies is always a thing in Magic
Solitude : Elemental Incarnation that costs 3WW Subtlety : Elemental Incarnation that costs 2UU Grief : Elemental Incarnation that costs 2BB Fury : Elemental Incarnation that costs 3RR Endurance : Elemental Incarnation that costs 1GG The remaining five are Instant and Sorcery spells, with the exception of one Eldrazi creature
As with Timmy/Tammy and Johnny/Jenny, Spikes come in a variety of flavors based on how they want to prove their ability - Innovators often have Johnny/Jenny sensibilities, in that their focus is on understanding how the game works at its core and demonstrating that mastery by being the first to come up with new decks, tactics, and advancements in play concepts
Smothering Tithe, Esper Sentinel, Rhystic Study, etc., all only work if something happens defined by the card and when the opponent doesn't pay to prevent the effect
Both complexity and tension are valuable tools when used in the right amount and in the right places