Loot boxes are the gaming world's version of a vending machine that only sells disappointment. You pay, you hope for a shiny rarity, and most of the time you get a sticker you already have. The randomness is just a veneer for a deterministic disappointment. In real life, you might buy a snack that turns out to be stale—there’s no way you can predict whether it’s the last good one, but the cost is still the same. The lesson? Consumer culture loves the illusion of choice even when the outcome is pre‑determined. It’s not the randomness that matters, it’s the relentless urge to keep paying for that fleeting chance at something that may not even exist.

Sure, just as long as you don’t expect me to celebrate the first time you get a minty‑fresh chip. The only real prize will be the collective sigh when the machine spits out another stale snack.