Must be nice, got 1 hit in 162 packs. Pull rates were terrible, no full arts or IR pokemon meant there was nothing to hit between SIR and master balls.
We know Misty's Psyduck and Ethan's Pichu have ARs, the arts were shown at Worlds.
https://www.pokebeach.com/2024/08/owners-pokemon-returning-and-team-rocket-set-teased-at-worlds
Yes, they absolutely would. The cards aren't expensive because they're standard legal. They're expensive because all the "Investors" don't want to miss out on the new Moonbreon.
And I do spend money on cards not in the standard format, why wouldn't people? That's why Evolving Skies and Fusion...
Yes, people are scalping this set to get new cards for their decks. Common Budew is the issue, definitely not the inflated Umbreons. It's Budew.
In fact, so many people are opening every set to chase the super expensive cards that literally all the playable cards in the format are super cheap...
I was taking Prize packs as my payment for running events instead of standard packs (we have plenty to go round) ? now I have to hold onto them for a few years or just trade for stuff I can actually sell
My thoughts are they plan what's going to be in each set very early, maybe even before the set's are released and just guess what's viable for the new stuff, that's why Claydol and Letter are in here and so much random junk from SV was in prize pack 3