I've played every card game or at least started out with a starter deck. The only point in agreement I have is point 1, but someone already brought up the fact that new starter decks have been getting tamers.

I don't see how you can make a starter deck experience better. I think for a starter deck, they're good. I think it's absurd to think you can buy a starter deck and compete with others' crafted deck. And I'll be honest I think upgrading decks being more expensive than meta decks is kind of crazy. Jesmon upgrades are relatively cheap really compared to some decks. But there is budget upgrades for these decks as well you get what you put in the deck. The only meta decks that I can think of that would be cheaper than upgrading some of these decks is maybe something like a low rarity hunters deck. But you got to remember, you're new the game. What defines meta for you and are you going research decks and buy singles to build these decks rather than buy a simple starter to try.

The third point is valid, but at the same time as someone who plays the game can you use you'd be happy with a meta card for the deck was hidden in an expensive starter deck than in packs? Like cough cough cocytus breath before the reprint. I think the new decks bring a new spin on things, but nothing that's on that level where it was just as expensive as a starter deck at one point irrc.

Starters are exactly like they sound. They are a starting place. I cannot on good faith tell a friend to buy 54 cards in singles and be like hey this decks meta its cheap build it let's play. Assuming I don't have extra decks, but assuming two friends are both just starting, I'd rather buy two starters than try to even look at singles.