Yeah I think it's kind of like the new version of "_th edition" sets, but specifically for modern, and with premium treatment. It brings new cards into modern with reprints and remixes of cards that were popular in older sets, as well as some brand new cards that enhance a certain play style in some new way. Cards in this set will be popular for a while.

Oh you're right. There's hardly any commons in the set. So that's going to be a shit ton of uncommons and rares in those packs. That definitely explains the price increase. Actually I think it might be just all the extra treatments for the other rarities that makes it seem like there's hardly any commons.