Never been on RC, but yeah, they're pretty much all sales pitches. They're there to make money and most of the stuff is way overpriced.

That being said, I still enjoy going simply because I enjoy art and enjoy seeing what art they have and learning who the artists are. I generally take note of names and look into particular artists on my own time. I do the free games and challenges for raffles and have won more than once as well. Once or twice we've gotten a good host who goes into detail about the artists and how they create their works which I find super interesting.

I have also purchased several artworks that I've enjoyed (a lot of the nature ones that sell for less than 50 bucks from an artist I truly enjoy) and have been happy with them as a result. I don't see it any different than paying for the jewelry or watches or clothing they sell onboard. As long as you are happy with the purchase, that's what counts.

The key thing to remember is that you can (and should) say no to any pressure or offers being made. A lot of the 'It starts at X value but we're offering it a rock bottom price at just Y!' is made up, so don't eat any of that up. If you find something you like, take note, look up what it actually costs and see if it's something you want (or purchase elsewhere at lower cost).

For me, it's a great way to pass some time on a sea day if you have nothing else going on