Krynn is it always like this?

[Firecrest]

MTG gets a worse rap than it deserves. I used to go to the release events, since it was an easy/fun way to make money. I always won my events and you could always sell the prize packs at a ridiculous upcharge since the events were normally a couple weeks before the product was readily available.

Those events were crawling with people that fit expectations, but there were plenty of just regular people as well.