I’ve thought about this too, and I think a big part of it is how the whole system is structured around rarity and market value, which is explained pretty well in https://geekvibesnation.com/fifa-ultimate-team-the-economy-of-virtual-footballer-trading/
, where they talk about how supply, demand, and hype shape perceived value; when you know a certain card is rare and expensive on the market, the reveal suddenly feels bigger, almost like you’ve unlocked something truly special, I’ve had moments where pulling a high-rated player felt more memorable than winning a tight match, and that shows how the economic layer and presentation combine to create that dopamine hit, it’s not just the player itself but what it represents in terms of status, coins, and squad improvement.