December B&R Changes

[Nehptis]

No changes for us.  Even on the unrestriction side.  Not that I expected any.

http://www.wizards.com/magic/magazine/article.aspx?x=mtg/daily/feature/17c

Announcement Date: December 19, 2008
Effective Date: January 1, 2009

Standard, Extended, Legacy, Vintage, Block, Two-Headed Giant Constructed
No changes

Magic Online Formats
No changes

For an explanation of this announcement, read today's Latest Developments column on magicthegathering.com. For the complete list of all banned and restricted cards by format, click here.

As you can see I was a little frustrated with the lack of "comments" about Vintage.  But, was surprised by the response:

http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?p=17472942#post17472942

Secretly I was hoping that Glimpse of Nature would be banned in Ext.  I don't playing anything except Vintage.  But, I want to play T1 Elves and GoN is quite pricey right now!

[hauntedechos]

I was not really expecting any changes either, given the restoration of vault et al.  I was hoping to get my brainstorms back, however i guess that was a little too much to hope for given the settling that we are in right now with Vintage.  i also think that they would like us to adapt to other means of play and card choices instead of the defacto selections that we consider to be "auto includes", such as brainstorm.

So we build, play and wait to see what happens next time around.  Who knows, next time they make changes, we may get to play with Shah.  Not that I would be looking forward to that, beyond having another card brought of the shelves.

thanks for the post on the update.

Haunted.

[Akuma]

i also think that they would like us to adapt to other means of play and card choices instead of the defacto selections that we consider to be "auto includes", such as brainstorm.

Don't kid yourself, the "auto includes" haven't really changed that much. A format that does not rotate cards out will always have a well-defined list of "auto includes", the restriction of 4 ofs (that are not engines themselves or specific combo components) only leads to small adjustments that accomplish nothing.

[hauntedechos]

I agree that there will always be a well defined list of auto includes in Vintage and Brainstorm was one of them, when playing Islands.  It's the adjustment that I was talking about, not choosing to use another sub engine altogether because Brainstorm is restricted.  The restriction of Brainstorm has, as you've pointed out, forced us to make adjustments; such as 1Brainstorm 1 Ponder 1X and 1X. A three card adjustment.  Now I don't know how silly I was in saying that the authorities that be, really wanted to see us select another sub engine.  As a last thought I should have pin pointed that I was really talking about Brainstorm and Ponder, rather than a blanket statement about "auto includes".

Haunted.

[Implacable]

I agree that there will always be a well defined list of auto includes in Vintage and Brainstorm was one of them, when playing Islands.  It's the adjustment that I was talking about, not choosing to use another sub engine altogether because Brainstorm is restricted.  The restriction of Brainstorm has, as you've pointed out, forced us to make adjustments; such as 1Brainstorm 1 Ponder 1X and 1X. A three card adjustment.  Now I don't know how silly I was in saying that the authorities that be, really wanted to see us select another sub engine.  As a last thought I should have pin pointed that I was really talking about Brainstorm and Ponder, rather than a blanket statement about "auto includes".

Haunted.

Eh, I agree with you that Ponder's 'replaced' Brainstorm in the sense that where there once were 4 Brainstorms, there is now 1 BS, 1 Ponder, X, Y.  But it hasn't replaced Brainstorm in a functional sense, because in that sense, Brainstorm is a heckuvalot better.  The 4x Brainstorm format was an entirely different one, regardless of Ponder.  We haven't made itty-bitty adjustments; we've had to slow down the entire format to account for the sudden dearth of quality cantrips, and for the lack of Brainstorm in particular, which among other things was a mana-fixer, a card-quality engine, and an anti-Duress tool.  Ponder's only one and a half of those.

[LordHomerCat]

I agree that there will always be a well defined list of auto includes in Vintage and Brainstorm was one of them, when playing Islands.  It's the adjustment that I was talking about, not choosing to use another sub engine altogether because Brainstorm is restricted.  The restriction of Brainstorm has, as you've pointed out, forced us to make adjustments; such as 1Brainstorm 1 Ponder 1X and 1X. A three card adjustment.  Now I don't know how silly I was in saying that the authorities that be, really wanted to see us select another sub engine.  As a last thought I should have pin pointed that I was really talking about Brainstorm and Ponder, rather than a blanket statement about "auto includes".

Haunted.

Eh, I agree with you that Ponder's 'replaced' Brainstorm in the sense that where there once were 4 Brainstorms, there is now 1 BS, 1 Ponder, X, Y.  But it hasn't replaced Brainstorm in a functional sense, because in that sense, Brainstorm is a heckuvalot better.  The 4x Brainstorm format was an entirely different one, regardless of Ponder.  We haven't made itty-bitty adjustments; we've had to slow down the entire format to account for the sudden dearth of quality cantrips, and for the lack of Brainstorm in particular, which among other things was a mana-fixer, a card-quality engine, and an anti-Duress tool.  Ponder's only one and a half of those.

The format isn't really that much slower.  TPS is the best deck, Ad Naus is around, and Tezzeret kills on like turn 4.  It might seem slower because drains are good, but that's like calling the Pitchlong-MD Gifts meta slow.  GAT games generally took more turns then meandeck gifts.

[yatagirlofchaos]

We should create a petition to unrestrict Brainstorm.

[Nehptis]

Although I'm a long time Blue Mage and have been playing Oath since Angel Oath thru Tyrant and Hellkite, I don't think I want Brainstorm back.  True, I'm not happy about all the Tezz out there.  But, it's just the latest version of a good Drain deck a-la Keeper.

Brainstorm belongs on the Restricted list.  It made too many bad hands good or great and too many good hands ri-donk-ulous.  Not mention its ability to dodge Duress effects.  I think the format is much tighter without it.  It definitely makes mull decisions more challening not having it.

Ponder I'm still on the fence about.  But, it probably should stay there, too.  Ideally, the DCI should have put BS on and waited to see what a Ponder meta looked like.

I'm not sure if anything needs to be added to the list at this time.  A few watches maybe due to Ich's results and also facing 9 Spheres makes Shops matches about exciting as watching paint dry.  Maybe some more un-Restrictions should be explored.

[LotusHead]

Ponder I'm still on the fence about.  But, it probably should stay there, too.  Ideally, the DCI should have put BS on and waited to see what a Ponder meta looked like.

I'm not sure if anything needs to be added to the list at this time.  A few watches maybe due to Ich's results and also facing 9 Spheres makes Shops matches about exciting as watching paint dry.  Maybe some more un-Restrictions should be explored.

I agree with the firwst statement about Brainstorm and Ponder.

The second statement makes almost no sense at all.

Ichorid results? They top 8 every now and then, but going the distance is pretty rare. If T1 was all about G1 preboard, sure...but..
Also, deriding Shop matchups is like saying chess is boring.  All good blue mages can dispatch of shop decks if they are good enough (or at least win the die roll and SB suitably)

either way, neither deck is dominating and have little to worry the DCI about.

[Nehptis]

Saying the 2nd statement makes "almost" no sense is a bit of a stretch.  "Red tires are great fork baskets in jelly."  Now that makes no sense....but anyway...

My comments re: Ich and Shop are more tracing the theme of "non-interaction equals boredom / unfun."  It's an age old arguement that was heightend by the restriction of 3Sphere.

Personally, I go 50/50 when playing vs. Ich or Shop.  But, I would much rather play against more interactive decks.  Even though decks like TPS and Tezz can go "broken", those matches seem more exciting to play against than getting goldfished vs Ich or seeing T1 Sphere, T2 Sphere, followed by the usual Shop stuff, which is a yawn fest for me.

[LotusHead]

Saying the 2nd statement makes "almost" no sense is a bit of a stretch.  "Red tires are great fork baskets in jelly."  Now that makes no sense....but anyway...

My comments re: Ich and Shop are more tracing the theme of "non-interaction equals boredom / unfun."  It's an age old arguement that was heightend by the restriction of 3Sphere.

Personally, I go 50/50 when playing vs. Ich or Shop.  But, I would much rather play against more interactive decks.  Even though decks like TPS and Tezz can go "broken", those matches seem more exciting to play against than getting goldfished vs Ich or seeing T1 Sphere, T2 Sphere, followed by the usual Shop stuff, which is a yawn fest for me.

T1 is sometimes a yawn fest: Broken Cards exist in T1.

As a shop player, I am terrified to play against anyone I meet, unless I know them to be total noobs with regard to decklists or rules knowledge.

If they know what they are doing, I am terrified always, cuz they have many more blue cards than I do.

If they get god hands, I understand that.
If I get god hands (ideal lock pieces with a suitable mana base, etc) I hope I can finish it off.

That is Vintage.
 
I have no idea where the "non-interaction" thing comes from vs a shop player, unless you are talking about "sometimesvintagedecksjustseem togetthenuthighawesomehandand winsometimes" hand.

No matter how incoherent my examples seem, Ichorid (and god forbid, Shops...) don't dominate/warp/win nearly as much as blue decks do (or dark rit/Oath/etc decks do.

[Akuma]

Some people may find certain strategies unexciting and thus want to see them nerfed which is really sad because we end up with what we have now, a format dominated by Mana Drain decks.

It was nice to see other decks doing well and putting up many top eights (Gush decks for example), now we are back to the same sh** - Mana Drains, the way it has always been, yet that does not pose a problem because for some odd reason many people (WotC?) feel that if they use Drains they are somehow more skilled than those who don't 

[Zieby]

Instead to start a petition for Brainstorm we should all start a Petition for Gush,

Gush is with out Brainstorm, Ponder and Merchant Scroll not as Broken as it was 1 Year ago. But It would be another draw engine that people could use.
And decks as the good old Hulk Smash could be played again but Even GAT is a deck that could be played and will be of the same power level as the drain or ritual decks. I Know , it's a dream that will never come true, but I just wanted to mention it.

Peace Arjan

[Nehptis]

I disagree with Gush almost as much as I do with Brainstorm being removed from the List.  Gush was pretty strong before there was a Ponder.  And it was pretty strong before people starting chaining Gushes together with MScrolls.

BStorm = See my post above.
Gush = Just mentioned.
MScroll = Blue Tutor for FOW, Recall, or Bounce....That needs to be restricted.

So, of the 4 Ponder is the only 1 I'd like to see back just to understand its true influence on the meta.  I understand their reasoning.  But, looking back I think the DCI was a bit too hasty.  The rest should stay there.

Re: unrestricting anything else.  The list is pretty tight.  Maybe FoF could be removed to see if it warps anything.  But, other than that I think the B&R list looks very good.

Fast mana should stay (with the obvious exceptions of the holy trinity of Ritual, Shop, Drain).
Undercosted draw should stay like Recall, BStorm, etc.
Undercosted Tutors like DT, Vamp, etc., should stay.
Draw 7s and single card engines like Twister, Bargain, etc. should stay.

What do you folks think should be unrestricted OTHER THAN Brainstorm, Gush and Merchant Scroll?
I a say this because I strongly feel that BStorm and Gush fall squarely within the same category of Undercosted Draw as ARecall does.  And I feel the MScroll falls squarely in the category of cheap Tutors like DT.

[Akuma]

I strongly feel that BStorm and Gush fall squarely within the same category of Undercosted Draw as ARecall does.

There is a huge difference between "Undercosted Draw" and "Conditional Undercosted Draw". Brainstorm is balls without the shuffle effect and Gush requires TWO land drops to draw you +1. The fact that a powerful interaction with a RESTRICTED card (ie. Fastbond) exists is beside the point. Going by this principle, we should restrict Standstill because it is an Undercosted Draw spell and Crucible of Worlds because it has a powerful interaction with a restricted card.

This is my OPINION on this subject:

Under-Costed Effect:
Ancestral Recall
Balance
Frantic Search
Library of Alexandria
Memory Jar
Mind’s Desire
Necropotence
Strip Mine
Timetwister
Time Vault
Time Walk
Wheel of Fortune
Windfall
Yawgmoth’s Bargain
Yawgmoth’s Will

Acceleration:
Black Lotus
Channel
Fastbond
Lion’s Eye Diamond
Lotus Petal
Mana Crypt
Mana Vault
Mox Emerald
Mox Jet
Mox Pearl
Mox Ruby
Mox Sapphire
Sol Ring
Tolarian Academy

Efficient Tutors:
Burning Wish
Crop Rotation
Demonic Consultation
Demonic Tutor
Enlightened Tutor
Entomb
Imperial Seal
Merchant Scroll
Mystical Tutor
Tinker
Vampiric Tutor

Should be unrestricted:
Brainstorm
Fact or Fiction
Flash
Gifts Ungiven
Grim Monolith
Gush
Ponder
Regrowth
Trinisphere

I was surprised when Chrome Mox and Mox Diamond were unrestricted, but it makes sense since they fall into the CONDITIONAL vs. UNCONDITIONAL category (Mox Diamond =/= Mox Jet just like Gush =/= Ancestral Recall)

[Nehptis]

I like your categorization ideas a lot.  It's a nice clean way of grouping the B&R list.  But, you flew too close to the sun on wings of pastrami...meaning, I can't agree with all your unrestriction choices.

Brainstorm - Nope. It's an undercosted Effect, too.

Fact or Fiction - I agree.  It's worth a test run.  If it becomes a problem then put it back on the list.

Flash - Maybe I'm still remembering how "Unfun" the Flash meta was.  But, I don't want to see this back.....yet.  So, for now I say this is an undercosted Effect.

Gifts Ungiven - Nope.  It's an Efficient Tutor.

Grim Monolith - This one is borderline.  My first impression is that this is "Acceleration".  But, since Vintage decks are so limited in space it could be a candidate for Unrestricton simply because most decks wouldn't play 2-4 of them even if they could.

Gush - Nope.  Undercosted Effect especially with Fastbond.

Ponder - Unrestrict it and see what happens.

Regrowth - Same arguement as Grim Monolith except exchange "Acceleration" for Undercosted Effect.

Trinisphere - A bigger NO than the reasons I listed for Flash.  This is an Undercosted AND disproportional effect.  It does almost nothing to the Shop player and HUGELY sets back the non-Shop opponent.  I see very little difference between a Turn One Shop--> 3Sphere play and a Turn One Ritual-->Necro play.  In either case the game isn't 100% over.  But, it is a very big hole for either the Shop or Necro opponent to dig out of.

[LordHomerCat]

I love love love GAT, and if you unrestrict Ponder, Brainstorm, and Gush, non-Gush blue decks will be basically unplayable again.  Even without 4 scrolls, the engine is just way too good for anything else to compete, so you can say goodbye to Thirst and Intuition if you do that.

I would like to see Fact unrestricted to see how it works, and Gifts might be fair since you don't have Scroll to support it anymore so you'd have to run like Thirst or some other much worse engine in the deck.  I would like brainstorm but it's no big deal if it stays since it is probably too good, although Ponder is likely fine.  Monolith sucks, legalize it.  Regrowth is a little scary, although clearly worse than Merchant Scroll if that means anything at this point.  And 3Ball is not interesting at all and should rot where it is.

[OwenTheEnchanter]

I basically agree with everything Jimmy said.

[M.Solymossy]

if you unrestrict gush, even with brainstorm, scroll, and ponder restricted, I will play gush decks til the end of time.  Unrestricted Gush is still a dumb idea.

[LordHomerCat]

if you unrestrict gush, even with brainstorm, scroll, and ponder restricted, I will play gush decks til the end of time.  Unrestricted Gush is still a dumb idea.

This, I disagree with.  I think Gush is fine.  Without all the other insane engine cards, GAT will just be a tempo deck with a cheap draw engine, but not the best combo deck.  You could probably beat plenty of people with it, but it would not be the only viable engine and would just be one of many playable decks.  Just Gush without all the other blue stuff, I think, would end up safer than Gifts or Fact, and I could support either of those coming off.

Also, you didn't play Gush decks when it was legal!  Why start now?

[Twaun007]

And 3Ball is not interesting at all and should rot where it is.

I can say the same thing about a deck packing 4x Fact or Fiction. All the Blue spells that are restricted should stay restricted.

[LordHomerCat]

And 3Ball is not interesting at all and should rot where it is.

I can say the same thing about a deck packing 4x Fact or Fiction. All the Blue spells that are restricted should stay restricted.

At least when I play Fact or Fiction, you can do something.  Heck, you even get to participate in resolving the spell: how often does that happen?

[LennonMarx]

I'm with LHC on this one. I've been saying that Fact or Fiction should come off for some time now. It costs to much to be super degenerate, and unlike Gifts (which, honestly, probably could come off) it doesn't find 4 specific cards to wreck you. I think it would allow things like BBS and maybe some kind of Tog to at least be playable. Besides, the logic for restricted FoF, as I recall was "Fact or Fiction is better than Geyser/Stroke, those are restricted. Thus, restrict Fact or Fiction." I think it would be interesting, if nothing else, to see Fact or Fiction off the list. It can't be any worse than Gush, anyways.

Regarding the rest of the list. Grim Monolith can come off. I can't see that being relevant at all. Maybe for belcher? Regrowth is tempting. Part of me wants to see it and part thinks it would be a terrible mistake. I think that one should be left, just for the sake of caution. Ponder should come back. BS, Flash, and Gush are probably safe without scroll, but with regards to the latter two if they get taken off and then dominate again, there would be a lynching at wizards.

This hasn't been mentioned yet, but I think that Enlightened Tutor could safely come off the list. Any thoughts on this, or am I just stupid?

[Nehptis]

and unlike Gifts (which, honestly, probably could come off) it doesn't find 4 specific cards to wreck you.

That's exactly why Gifts should stay on the list.

BS, Flash, and Gush are probably safe without scroll, but with regards to the latter two if they get taken off and then dominate again, there would be a lynching at wizards.

No way no how with BS.  This is coming from a Loooong time Brainstorm player.  Gush/Bond is an incredibly efficient engine...so no.   Flash...see my previous post.

This hasn't been mentioned yet, but I think that Enlightened Tutor could safely come off the list. Any thoughts on this, or am I just stupid?

It could be tested.  But, I feel that it is still too efficient of a tutor to Unrestrict.  Eventhough, it is in Vintage's worst color.

[hvndr3d y34r h3x]

It could be tested.  But, I feel that it is still too efficient of a tutor to Unrestrict.  Eventhough, it is in Vintage's worst color.

giving 5c long players that much access to necro and bargain, not to mention to mana to cast it in vault/crypt (even scarier lotus shenanigans), seems like a terrible idea

[Smmenen]

1) Dividing the grounds for restriction into categories like Akuma and ELD has done before strikes me as patently silly.   The terms used have no clear definitions, and even if they did, the line between deserving of restriction and undeserving of restriction is impossible to find.   That's because the line has nothing to do with the words used, but is a balance of factors, including metagame strength.

What does "efficient" mana mean?  Why is Grim Monolith restricted when Cabal Ritual is not?  Why is Dark Ritual and Mishra's Workshop unrestricted but Mana Vault not?   These things can't be reconciled under a system of descriptors as proposed.

There are also legitimate grounds for restriction that can't be captured by those categories.   They are porous, and nonsensical.

2) The restriction of Flash and Gush makes little sense when Ponder, Brianstorm, and Scroll are all restricted.  If they had just restricted Scroll, it would have significantly slowed the Gushbond engine.  But restricting Brainstorm and Scroll totally neuters it.

 Gush can be used fairly.   The problem with Gush is when it's used in the space of a turn or two to win the game by chaining together Gushes, Scrolls, and Cantrips with Fastbond.   With Scroll, Brainstorm, and POnder restricted, the Gush-Bond engine is totally dead. 

Using Gush to generate card advantage in an aggro control deck is fair.  Using it to storm out is not.   

Also: Gush requires a light mana base to function: that is the whole "Grow" concept.   With the best cantrips restricted, and the hyper efficient Scroll draw engine, it is too difficult to work that kind of mana base.   Secondly, the best synergies are lost.  Brainstorming back the two additional land and shuffling them away is gone with Brainstorm restricted, etc.

3) Gifts Ungiven was wrongly restricted at the time.   Instead, Scroll should have been restricted.  It was the wrong card, and the consequences of making the wrong decision became apparent.   The unrestriction of Gush could have actually worked had they restricted Scroll instead. 

That said, that doesn't mean that Gifts should be unrestricted today -- the metagame is different now.   I would favor it though. 

4) Fact or Fiction was restricted in 2001, at a time when there were NO competitive Vintage tournaments.   The grounds for its restriction were spurious, and remain so today. 

[nineisnoone]

This hasn't been mentioned yet, but I think that Enlightened Tutor could safely come off the list. Any thoughts on this, or am I just stupid?

I feel it's worse than Brainstorm.  I'm not sure if it's that means it's safe to unrestrict though. 

[Nehptis]

Like it or not people prefer to categorize things in order to understand and analyze them.  It's simply human nature to do so.  And like many categorizing efforts of anything within our realm of understanding the ones proposed are not perfect.  However, they can serve a purpose for a basis of discussion.  The bottom line is unless the DCI publishes a process based methodology with very definitive guidelines for making B&R decisions we are left to speculate the whys and why nots.

In regards to Shop and Ritual for example, you are correct in asking those questions.  There is simply no logical comparative reason for Ritual and Shop to remain unrestrictd while other equally effcient mana producers are on the list.  But, my guess is that they remain unrestricted simply for nostalgic reasons.  Drain, Ritual and Shop are major Vintage format definers.  That's not to say that they will never get targeted.  But, for now they seem to remain as the Holy Trinity that escape restriction time and time again.

[RJ]

In regards to Shop and Ritual for example, you are correct in asking those questions.  There is simply no logical comparative reason for Ritual and Shop to remain unrestrictd while other equally effcient mana producers are on the list.  But, my guess is that they remain unrestricted simply for nostalgic reasons.  Drain, Ritual and Shop are major Vintage format definers.  That's not to say that they will never get targeted.  But, for now they seem to remain as the Holy Trinity that escape restriction time and time again.

I think that ritual and shop are unrestricted to attempt to bring some balance to the format.  If those two were restricted then Drain would need to be restricted also.  I could not imagine anything more "unfun" than being forced to play Drain mirrors all day.  I think right now that choosing to play a drain deck is probably the correct thing to do, but if shop and ritual were restricted everyone would be forced to do it. 

[Smmenen]

Like it or not people prefer to categorize things in order to understand and analyze them.  It's simply human nature to do so.  And like many categorizing efforts of anything within our realm of understanding the ones proposed are not perfect.  However, they can serve a purpose for a basis of discussion.  The bottom line is unless the DCI publishes a process based methodology with very definitive guidelines for making B&R decisions we are left to speculate the whys and why nots.

But that's just not so.  We don't have to speculate -- we can know why things were restricted by simply looking at the time in  which cards were restricted.   

Not too long ago I looked at every major restriction since 1998. 

http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/vintage/15964_So_Few_Insane_Plays_The_Vintage_Apocalypse_Demolition_Slated_For_62008.html

1999: Crop Rotation, Doomsday, Dream Halls, Enlightened Tutor, Frantic Search, Grim Monolith, Hurkyl’s Recall, Lotus Petal, Mana Crypt, Mana Vault, Mind Over Matter, Mox Diamond, Mystical Tutor, Tinker, Vampiric Tutor, Voltaic Key, Yawgmoth’s Bargain, and Yawgmoth’s Will are all restricted.

(See the fascinating explanation here.)

2000: Necropotence and Demonic Consultation are restricted.

2001: Fact or Fiction is restricted.

2002: No restrictions.

2003: In March, Entomb and Earthcraft are restricted (the latter because the effect was to ban it in Legacy). Three months later, Gush and Mind’s Desire are restricted. Later still, Burning Wish, Chrome Mox, and Lion’s Eye Diamond are restricted.

2004: No restrictions

2005: Trinisphere is restricted. It is also announced that Portal will become legal, and that Personal Tutor and Imperial Seal will be restricted when it does.

2006: No restrictions.

2007: Gifts Ungiven is restricted.

2008: Brainstorm, Flash, Gush, Merchant Scroll, and Ponder are restricted.

In 1999, the massive influx of combo parts and fast mana came to a thunderous crescendo followed by the largest wave of restrictions since the origination of the format. The following year was cleanup. The restriction of Necropotence marked the beginning of modern Vintage. The combo era was over. The format before 1999 looked structurally very different from 21st century Vintage.

Each of those restrictions has a DCI explanation. 

Putting the cards in these discrete, but meaningless, categories serves no purpose other than to fuel hot air.  We can talk all we want about "tutors," "cheap mana," or other stuff, but the truth is that the reasons for restriction are both simpler and more complex at the same time. 

In regards to Shop and Ritual for example, you are correct in asking those questions.  There is simply no logical comparative reason for Ritual and Shop to remain unrestrictd while other equally effcient mana producers are on the list.  But, my guess is that they remain unrestricted simply for nostalgic reasons.  Drain, Ritual and Shop are major Vintage format definers.  That's not to say that they will never get targeted.  But, for now they seem to remain as the Holy Trinity that escape restriction time and time again.

I would say that there are good reasons not to restrict Mishra's Workshop and Dark Ritual, but it has nothing to do with their "efficiency" or "cheapness" as a mana accellerant.  My point was to show how those categories are just silly.