A top competitive card's Alternative Art version typically sells for 1.5-2x the Secret Rare version
Being a 4/4 with vigilance and trample is also quite helpful, as it allows the possibility of threatening lethal commander damage without giving up access to its ability during games that run long
What are the pull rates for Special Illustration Rares in Destined Rivals? Based on TCGPlayer's data from 8,000+ booster pack openings: any SIR pulls at approximately 1 in 94 packs, and a specific SIR pulls at roughly 1 in 1,033 packs
WotCs R&D always receives questions about when youre going to complete said cycle. As an example, we can cite the 1-mana tutors that tutor for a card and put it on top, like Vampiric Tutor, Worldly Tutor, Enlightened Tutor, and Mystical Tutor, lacking the red one
They can use these to spend on buying packs, while earning a few along the way