Two of the things I enjoy in magic is constructed play in way of Legacy, and current set drafting. They scratch different itches, and are enjoyable for different reasons to me. Each take different skills, mostly different knowledge and background, and general understanding. Staying up on the format like Legacy isn't as hard as say standard, but requires time and effort to know. Where-as draft will change every few months because a new set is released. The themes change, draft knowledge changes, etc. etc.
Benefits of each-
Draft will likely supply my draft supply and I enjoy the various parts of the "Gathering" section of the game. Get to know the weekly players, get to enjoy some stories, something to look forward to. Winning can be equally fun. I've also come to enjoy a REALLY good game of draft. The back and forth, the sweating out the top deck. etc. Mana screw is the absolute worst way to go in a draft game. Sucks, bu it is what it is.
Legacy gets me back to my roots of playing, but I doubt my old magic self would understand the game if he saw it now. Super powerful cards, played in new and interesting ways along with 27 years worth of cards. (minus about 60 cards all time) Have at it, find you lane in the super highway of Legacy and enjoy. Most legacy players have pet decks, and are willing to dabble in others. I've got issues where new decks pop up and look super interesting. I have a hard time staying focused on single decks, but I have been able to narrow them down to- Show and Tell decks, Eldrazi stompy decks, and Death and Taxes. Each have a variety of versions, and personal tastes and meta decisions can alter them easily. Its a dance, and fun at the same time.
Both of those formats are great. I have spent countless hours digesting content. I've played a lot less than I would like. I play Arena just to kill time and have only spent money on it during the lock down to help kill time. (scratching an itch)
That all said- I have a hard time playing now. The Gathering has been removed. Its the critical piece of this game. The physical space you occupy with friends and your short time opponent. Trading cards. Hearing stupid stories. Enjoying the couple hours you are able to play your game/hobby. While digital is a nice supplement, it is not the thing. Bragging about what you opened in paper draft is completely different than digital. The physical object is much more meaningful. I just text a buddy about opening an Ugin in an Arena prize pack- felt so hollow.
I've often said, "I just want to play the damn game." Well, I was slightly wrong. What I meant at the time was, I didn't care if I had proxied cards- I just loved turning cards sideways with friends. Now I revise my statement- "I just want to hang out and play the game."
While digital might be easier to access, its making the game harder to stay in contact with.
