Have great events, fair judges and lots of fun
Yes, you can still potentially cheat the unlock cost and get your effect: so long as your cheating ability says cast without paying its mana cost or something similar
It lets you tap out for your commander without fear of immediate retaliation
This coating affects: How easily cards slide past each other in a sleeve How well the image quality holds up when cards rub together How much dirt, sweat, and table grime they can handle before looking rough How light reflects off the surface when you tilt cards under a lamp or UV light Foil MTG cards add another layer of complexity
I think this largely comes down to the fact that blue and green rely less on refill draw, and can get by with topping up easily and cheaply as a game progresses
Other older Magic cards got this treatment, including Gix, Titania, Mirri, Gerrard, and more