Agreed. If someone digs it, by all means enjoy.
I just don't get it, myself. I've tried to; spent a few years building one of those sets. Love the set, but in the end just had too many problems with the registry game: the economics of low pop commons and very thinly traded cards, the set weightings being decided by third parties, the GPA rules also being set by other parties-- one just gives up so much control of their collection to one specific company when one enters that game.
To me the Set Registry game is not the same as building a set. I totally get set building. But the registries are really just a marketing tool designed to get guys to spend money a certain way; wouldn't be surprised if great research was spent profiling a collector's mindset, and designing a gaming experience that would really meld with OCD, addictive streaks, and competitive urges. I think it is brilliant on the part of the companies, no question.
You said it very well in that it is really its own separate animal. More of an online game that involves collecting cards. I guess when one looks at it that way, it might be no different than any other online game. Interesting angle.
But the salient point for me is simply that I was done sweating GPA's when I left school
