Quote Originally Posted by Machinus View Post
The reason why we can't have skullclamp is because the DCI had a very bad experience with it recently. It has nothing to do with the power of the card, which is on par with many Legacy cards. It's really debatable whether or not it would be good in the format.
I definitely agree with your first and third points (i.e. all card bannings are in a part a response to a public relations disaster and that Wizards would be taking a considerable risk to unban such a problematic card in the past). They'll also be looking a Legacy, at least in part, through the Flash filter -- so, I think the odds of ever playing with Skullclamp in Legacy anytime soon is pretty doubtful.

Regarding its power, I've played with it and against it and its quite a stupid card--for its cost and affect in any game where it's on the board, I'm happy to see it on the Banned List.

Whether or not it would be any good is what it comes down to, for me. It would certainly been seen in Gobs and Affinity and I have no doubt someone would find some degenerate way to turn it into a truly abusive combo engine; but that obviously remains to be seen.

If you expect Clamp, put in cards to beat Clamp, and continue to play. There are tons of cards that could deal with it that could fit in any deck. Engineered Explosives, Powder Keg, Pithing Needle, and probably more already thought of or mentioned.
That's not the way to look at it. Every powerful card has foils--like the Flash combo could be disrupted a million and half ways, but that doesn't mean it wasn't busted beyond belief. (Not necessarily comparing Flash to 'clamp here, but the point remains that the existence of answers doesn't mean things won't get out of control.)