As far as the “stop prioritizing it” comment, as a self designated scrub, I feel like the pros are trying to say if you force yourself to take every angle and always make the ‘right’ choice instead of the fun choice and enjoying yourself, being at the “top of the proverbial mountain” won’t be as satisfying or enjoyable as you imagine it to be. I’ve found that to be true in other facets of my life.

That’s just life with moralizations though: somebody is always excluded. Exclusion may even be the point of moralizing at all, to some degree.

I play this game because I have a competitive drive and a preference for puzzles and strategy over athleticism or brute force. I find winning fun. I like the grind. I don’t get mad when I lose to a random jank deck. I get annoyed with myself if I lose due to a mistake, but it doesn’t ruin my entire day. So yeah, I would prefer not to be told by pros, by brewers, or by casual players that my behavior is bad when I never insult, threaten, or condescend to my opponents over outcomes.

Oh, and yes the pact rule change is nonsense. If you don’t want to lose to a card in your own deck that literally says “if….you lose the game,” then, in the words of Dark Souls fandom, git gud.