My line of thought back then was its better to have a card in hand I want to cast, than have a creature or land Im not currently using, and while weve seen similar effects printed since then, most of those will be two mana or more (outside of Village Rites)
A little later on and this will also find any creature you might want or a more exotic land if for some reason you need that instead
Same mana cost, triggers precombat, swaps two life for a card, one for a Token or three for a 3/2 and you can do a few here and there or all three
Of the two precons, the five-colored Elemental one is likely to turn a lot more heads
The Glassworks side feels kind of similar to Agate Assault, offering 4 damage for 3 mana at sorcery speed
The medallions are in that range, as well