I believe this is the typical pattern. When Stygian Abyss came out, we would get a major drop off Abyssal Infernal about 1 in ever 2-3 trips. Now the drop rate is similar to other champs. I think this is a fair way to keep the market from getting flooded artifacts & drops.
I do not see nothing fair at all in starting with frequent drops and then reducing them for those players who come later.
I mean, there can be a number of reasons why some players cannot be early birds including difficulties in purchasing the booster right from day one.
Having drops start frequent and get them reduced only creates a bonus for those players who stocked up the new items while they were dropping often so that they can then sell them to outrageoused other players who are having a hard time getting them because the drop rate was reduced.
Hardly anything fair here, IMHO.
It should be the
other way around, instead, start always with a reduced drop rate and then adjust it slowly, increasing it a little at a time since the right balance is found.
This would be a much fairer way to do it, IMHO.