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Cards older than five sets were cycled out. This created a very stale metagame. There were only three types of decks on the tables- 79% of players played the one deck that was clearly stronger than all the rest, 20% ran the counter-deck that could sometimes win against that deck, and 1% tried to have fun and run what was called a "rogue" deck. Sure, the metagame WOULD change every set, but it would be just as stale- only three types of decks, no matter how many people were playing. The card pool was so small that a dominant deck was clearly evident, and everyone used it.
I'm afraid I just don't understand how giving players fewer cards to play with will make decks more creative. Sure, initially the metagame WILL change, but since there are fewer cards to work with, fewer ideas will be playable. Dominant decks should be more likely, not less likely; the metagame will change every set, but it will be more monochromatic, more homogenous. From now on, the metagame won't change because people will get more creative ideas. The metagame will change because tried-and-true ideas are no longer valid, and you HAVE to use the new ideas given to you by the new set. If old cards are polluting the metagame, ban them. If Throne and AUTO are too OP, just ban them. Don't burn the wheat with the chaff. At least give old cards a chance to be used instead of just wiping them all out because of a few bad apples.
There are so many cards that hurt the fun of the game that rotation clears out. It gets rid of: most all the weapons that let you play first, most of the chump blocks, most of the CBN enhancements, so many consistancy pieces that help you set up in turn 1 and never give your opponent a chance to do anything. There was so many elements to the game that needed to be changed that it wouldnt be feasible to ban them all.