So I read the initial post and a few comments, but don't feel like reading through everything so forgive me if I'm being redundant.
I think it's an interesting proposition. I'm neither for or against it. I think you brought up solid points as to why the prize mechanic is good the way it is and why it can be frustrating sometimes in a competitive setting. There was a huge discussion on HeyFonte recently about this very same topic. The original poster suggested that instead of using cards from your deck as prizes, just change it to a points system, where every non-EX/GX knockout gives you a point and every EX/GX knockout gives you two points. The win condition remains the same, but now we wouldn't have to worry about prizing anything. He made many of the same points that you did about it making deck building better and also saving time during both players' Turn 1.
For better or worse, however, I don't think the current prize mechanic will ever change. It's been the same way for over 20 years. Plus, it would impact the wording of so many cards that are already out. Maybe that's not as big of a deal as I think it would be, but who knows.
The only suggestion I've made for the game, which I truly believe has no drawbacks, is doing what the Dragon Ball Super card game does at the beginning of the game. Each player is allowed to shuffle back as many cards from their starting hand one time that they want and then draw that many cards before the game starts. I think that would help with people dead drawing at the start of a game. It doesn't shake things up that much, but I think players would like to have that option.
I think it's an interesting proposition. I'm neither for or against it. I think you brought up solid points as to why the prize mechanic is good the way it is and why it can be frustrating sometimes in a competitive setting. There was a huge discussion on HeyFonte recently about this very same topic. The original poster suggested that instead of using cards from your deck as prizes, just change it to a points system, where every non-EX/GX knockout gives you a point and every EX/GX knockout gives you two points. The win condition remains the same, but now we wouldn't have to worry about prizing anything. He made many of the same points that you did about it making deck building better and also saving time during both players' Turn 1.
For better or worse, however, I don't think the current prize mechanic will ever change. It's been the same way for over 20 years. Plus, it would impact the wording of so many cards that are already out. Maybe that's not as big of a deal as I think it would be, but who knows.
The only suggestion I've made for the game, which I truly believe has no drawbacks, is doing what the Dragon Ball Super card game does at the beginning of the game. Each player is allowed to shuffle back as many cards from their starting hand one time that they want and then draw that many cards before the game starts. I think that would help with people dead drawing at the start of a game. It doesn't shake things up that much, but I think players would like to have that option.
