You lose the card draw, but you protect all permanents you control with counters, including planeswalkers, and you tack on a free proliferate
I do run aluren in my Chulane deck however for virtually the same reason you suggested it
Most of the sets have already confirmed release dates, while others planned for later in the year are yet to announce official release dates
In just a short time it has become the areas premiere one-stop shop for the buying, selling, grading, and consignment of trading cards of all kinds, from sports, to Pokmon, Star Wars, Magic the Gathering, and beyond
You will also be able to earn Trade Tokens as event rewards in the future
I think for at least some of the people who bid for these expensive cards, it's more about regaining a lost part of their childhood than it is about snagging a card they can hopefully sell in a few years for a profit