[vehemenz]

I think lootboxes should be regulated like gambling, but the way Valve implemented them was not as bad as what the industry at large has done.

1. Loot was cosmetic or a "sidegrade" of items that could be obtained through other means (especially TF2). That is, not pay-to-win.

2. Loot boxes and their contents can be sold on the marketplace, so there are opportunities to make your money back if you get a $400 item. You can also sell the boxes themselves without paying for keys. Free Steam credit for everybody.

[kevincox]

> Loot was cosmetic or a "sidegrade" of items that could be obtained through other means

To phrase this difference (and hopefully less ambiguously)

All items, other than cosmetic-only items are obtainable via relatively reasonable gameplay.

You can purchase non-cosmetic items, and you can purchase (lootbox gamble for) otherwise non-obtainable items.