Basically, the same number of valuable cards it takes to make two solid $10/pack MSRP Masters sets could be used to make three solid $7/pack MSRP Masters sets, which would go a long way toward making the Masters -set model viable over the mid-term
The player base grew at ludicrous rates between Shards of Alara and Return to Ravnica , at which point things started to slow down
Because each is an assortment, the exact contents vary, which is part of the appeal for collectors and players
For years, I was terrible at shuffling my Magic cards
Alpha cards used to be less desirable due to the rounded corners, but thats not really an issue now that most Cubes and Vintage decks are double-sleeved
Regularly checking and replacing worn sleeves will maintain your collections longevity