[rsync]

"Like how the Magic: The Gathering people have undermined "rare" cards by just printing so many they can never be valuable."

I don't believe that that is the case ... Alpha/Beta/ArabianNights versions of currently printed cards are quite a bit more valuable ...

[byron_fast]

There's always something rare, but they have consciously undermined collectability by re-printing things and banning cards from tournament play.