The authors commentary on page 99 corroborates that interpretation by stating that you cannot use [QUICKEN] with more than one Unown [Q] on the same turn. TL;DR: Im fairly confident that your first interpretation is the correct one
Yes, it has a drawback, but it makes up for it by simply being a wall against any creature in attrition games, while being an efficient beater when we are the beatdown, and once transformed, a 4/4 with Lifelink provides a way to hold games or extend the clock even further
Upon its official release copies of Mana Drain started off at $350-400 before falling to $250
Its black Charizard artwork and Neo-era nostalgia make it a standout card for vintage collectors
However, simply presenting a wide range of groups to point and laugh at doesnt absolve the game of enabling players to mock some of the people who suffer most in society
You need ways to stay alive, card advantage, removal, and ways to win the game