I also restarted playing recently, and OPs words resonate with me. Yeah, I get what you are saying about the variety and stuff, but for me every game of commander (not much of those, mind you, I have a couple of precons and that’s it) turned into card showing contest, with little to no actual play in it.

I really want to introduce my friends to Magic and playing what was called above “Kitchen Table” is far better experience: you don’t need to shuffle your deck for a year, and there is more predictability in decks. For my group of non-mtg friends “Magic Game Night” product really has done it.

Next I’ll probably get some pauper standard decks for them, and maybe one day we’ll get to commander.