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xraytango wrote:

Well, see there is the assumption that the card has that value while in the package. Anyone could wind up pulling that card from the pack and have bought it brand new for the price of a package of MTG cards.

That card is only worth an exorbitant amount on the secondary market, of which WotC sees exactly zero dollars only after having been purchased for the price of the card pack (about $3.99 iirc?)

I know this is off topic from the OP, but I had to respond to this comment. This is very misleading to say that WotC sees no benefit from a strong secondary market in MtG. Having those high dollar cards on the secondary market absolutely benefits WotC, because those secondary sellers will buy cases of boosters just to get those high dollar cards, which benefits WotC because without that secondary market, booster sales go way down. Its the primary reason that the power cards are almost always rare (and of course WotC generally knows before they release a set what cards are going to be power cards and what aren't). The entire business model for MtG seems to rely on the secondary market (tournaments drive sales, and you can't have tournament worthy decks without that secondary market).

So while they aren't GW, Wizards isn't exactly a shining paragon either.