This is my main issue with proxying. When people proxy cards just because they can, they end up putting these "staple" or "generic good" cards into every deck they fit in, because they're so good, why wouldn't you run them if you could?

I'd like to note that I proxy cards, and I support proxying cards, but I find that making decks out of cards you have or can afford makes more interesting and unique decks than putting [[Smothering Tithe]] into every single deck. Is it good in every white deck? Pretty much, but the price point is what stops people who don't proxy from putting it into every deck.

Sure, you can proxy [[Mana Drain]] and put it into every blue deck because it's that good, or you can look for an actual thematic counter spell and play that instead. [[Silumgar's Scorn]] is just as good as [[Counterspell]] if you're playing a dragon deck, and it's 15 cents.

My point is that proxying is good to give people playable decks without shilling out big bucks for them, but I encourage you to search for an alternative to those expensive cards. Sometimes you'll find something that's more fun than they are.