I think I just made my second spin this season using the newly overcomplicated process. Scored +250 Elite Points. Was like, "Wow!" Then checked the archive. Oh, nothing really of interest in it. Selection is super-limited and prices (even in EP) seem super-high and vastly elevated. Not impressed. They had me back every day back when the wheel was good. Now it just seems like more work than its worth.
While I’m skeptical of many criticisms of the Wheel, I do agree that the Archive has been lackluster for a while. I’m not sure if I agree that
everything is overpriced, but the variety is too unchanging. The range of offerings is fine—I don’t think the Archive has to have 25 products—but some more-regular circulation of options would be beneficial. It also doesn’t help that the gold artisans and Rosé cards have been available for other promotions recently, which diminish their value as Archive-only decks (the gold artisans I am less concerned about given that they are priced lower and we’re always intended as a promotional deck). The 9000
-point Fox deck is also still obtainable from the original restuarant at $16/deck, so that also doesn’t feel particularly Archive-worthy.
I loved when theory11 had some uncut sheets available in the 3000 point range. Those always felt like something that was inherently unique to the Archive and which were priced correctly. Even 4000-5000 points might be fair. It might also be interesting for theory11 to develop an Archive Deck that is only ever available for purchase with elite points, no exceptions. I’d personally find that pretty compelling, and would buy more regular product to build up EP.