You imply that if it was executed well, the idea would be good and you would be comfortable spending money on it. People dropping tons of money on UB SLs, EDH decks, and sets are why they keep making them. If they didn't sell well they'd stop making them.
I could agree with the "executed well" notion if all mechanically unique UB cards were silver bordered. The reprints can be black bordered and function like official alters/skins.
I'm willing to give a pass to D&D since both are fantasy, both are owned by WOTC, and the fact that MTG took heavy inspiration from D&D. By extension, I'm also willing to give a more hesitant pass to LOTR, since both D&D and MTG both took inspiration from it, though I can't deny the legendary and specifically named cards (like Troll of Khazad Dum) LOTR cards still feel out of place in MTG. Cards like Orcish Bowmasters don't bother me since that's a card that could exist in MTG as-is since MTG has Orcs.
When WOTC apologists like Tolarian Community College and Rhystic Studies start getting exasperated, it's bad. Really bad.
Harmful Opinions did a fantastic video where he watches TCC lament the state of the game and the sets slated for release next year.
Watch it. It's good on so many levels.
