I agree that the pack variants are fun and are a good marketing tool, I would like to see them come back on the next set. I think the only place we would differ is that I'm ok with simplifying that part of the mini-set as a compromise to get the other things resolved that I think are far more important.
Put another way, I think the Black Foils and the various pack types did a lot of good and enabled us to sell more than we did on Rebellion, even with less players. But those also created negativity for some which also cost us.