Yes, new players will find the game hard. I remember my first few weeks on Splinterlands. Thankfully back then, I had some crypto in reserve I could use to buy about $200 worth of cards, and that helped me heaps. If I had to start again today, the rewards in Bronze League playing the Modern set are not enough as there is nothing I could use to buy cards, or even to rent cards. Without regular offsite inflows of fiat or crypto, I cannot see how new players can grow their collections beyond soulbound cards or even get the SPS they need to better their rewards. Such an outcome will only lead to frustration and then these new players will quit Splinterlands and potentially the Hive Blockchain entirely.

Thank you so much for the 0.83 SPS. Every little bit helps.

Count me in again, please. Many thanks - Ian. @ianballantine