Hi loves!
I hope this is the proper category to start a thread as such, but it was the closest I could find.
I was doing some research & have noticed some reddit pages feeling in the same boat as I. We need to make sure our voice as a community is heard so that gambling does not become a norm in Tyria!
We are all designers & I believe that all appearances should be available for us to apply to our characters the way we envision . The game is already limited enough in a sense that of course not everything in our imagination will appear in the game since we aren’t in control of the art, so filtering our options even more is just really dampening to a creative soul.
Now, the probability of obtaining keys is rare or impossible which forces people to buy (either with real money or convert gold into gems) countless keys in the BL Gem Store which is very pricey!! And with the awfully rare odds (not in our favor) of receiving tickets or even let alone one mere scrap , I cannot imagine how ppl’s wallets have been eaten…having to frantically buy more & more & watch it all go to waste. 
This does not prove skill . It is only luck. What does rng have to prove? Nothing. I have never bought these packs because of this important info others told me & saved me from doing (and because the other items in the packages aren’t things I need). I will not buy into gambling my money away & putting my faith into chance. Why should we even be given the choice to take that risk?
It would be great if all the Privateer weapon skins (as well as all other skins) are either tradeable (not account-bound), or better yet for the ppl who have to buy them with tickets & put them for sale on Trade in the first place , I say have the skins directly sold for gold by the merchants instead! Or have them obtainable by events or completing certain doable tasks.
I think they are quite nice looking; elegant dark wood and gold plated. Sorta steampunk-esque & reminds me a bit of Final Fantasy…could also be inspired by brass instruments or even woodwinds like flutes & saxophones with all the keys. Nothing else seems to be a good consolation prize as these skins for a very particular character of mine. I am sure I’m not the only one. I may just be one person who is trying to accept the fact that I am forced to choose a different weapon I don’t like for my toon as much…but there are other beautiful souls out there who i presume can afford because they do try, but it is absolutely not fair to them for Anet to take advantage! I don’t want that hardship for them just as much or more than I do for myself.
Economy is bad enough & gambling just makes things more stressful for the community. <3 It is not an “opportunity.”
So please Arenanet…do the smart thing & be gentle/kind & do not fall into the dishonorable ugly habit of rng. I’ve seen this happen in so many games & all around me. Young children who play even get sucked into this & think it is okay to throw bets into a computer that randomizes your result with usually no win. I feel so sorry for them because this generation is going to grow up like this and be miserable. And as an artist who wants my characters to look good, am disappointed that I won’t be able to fill in the missing puzzle pieces because of the way the game is programmed in the hands of a company’s decision. I’d like to be able to keep saying I am proud to be a part of guild wars . . . but gambling is beneath you Anet – you are better than this – I know you are! ~ Peace ~
Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Ossy