While the statement in the OP is true, have you considered Pauper? If I understand correctly, while I haven't built a Pauper deck yet, the limitations on card rarity should make it very possible to build a strong deck without spending too much. There's also proxies, which cost a fraction of real cards and shpuld be good enough to play with

Yes, I meant what you wrote in your second paragraph! Holding back something to not pull ahead too far and get all eyes on you. The T1 Sol Ring is a great example because one of us seems to be drawing it early so much more often than the others that we do often keep removals ready for whatever is coming out lol