think of them as part of the Rule 0 conversation
My guess, based on reading from online sources, books like A Collectors History of Magic The Gathering, and vintage magazines like Duelist, is that there were probably around 200 million revised cards printed
Then you can tap him and ten Elves to drain 10 life from each foe so he's a win con, a token maker, and an Elf lover in the right color combination to make that work
Instead of each card working together like an army of ants raising each other up, its usually a bit more like throwing giants at the enemy and seeing what sticks
Thus, a German Runeclaw Bear might become Dark Runenklauenbr or Runenklauenbr Dark
Captain Hook, Forceful Duelist isnt just a fighter, either, with the potential to quest for a point of lore or add him to your inkwell if he emerges a little later in the game