Good points and analysis of the evolution of the game. I think the problem gree has ran into with minis is the evolution of stats in the game. Currently, I can just get a new player, have scratch offs for a few months and get 500k a/d at level 10. That 6 months ago would be insane and 18 months ago would almost put me in FUN at level 10.
This inflation is making older characters obsolete unless they have really been built up.