Originally Posted by
GreenOne
The lackey -> SGC indeed comes up from time to time, and indeed comes more often if you're running 3 SGC. Fact is, when lackey is connecting you're likely to win, even if you put a 3-4cc drop into play. Even the goldfish speed is not decreased much if you drop a Chieftain instead of a SGC. (SGC+ lackey swings for 6, Lackey+Chieftain swings for 4, but your creatures also have haste, so you're likely swing with another dude too for 6 or 7 total).
If lackey connects on turn 3, you can also matron for SGC before attacking.
SGC does a lot of great things for the deck: it's a bomb during a stall, gives the deck reach, has an awesome sinergy with both the chiefs, gempalm, piledriver, stingscourger and Marshall. It's also a threat on its own.
Unfortunately he doesn't do those things until late turns, when our game is already quite good, being often win more, and often uncastable in games where you really need it.
I'm playing with 23 lands too (right now 4 Wastes, 3 Ports, but likely cutting the 3rd port for a Mountain). How often do you find yourself with an uncastable SGC, hoping it to be something else? 3 seems indeed a high number, as I've always played with 2 in the last two years.
EDIT: playing with 4 chieftains also make you laugh of E.Plague, freeing some number of SB slots.
