I predict a lot less money will get spent on this event and in subsequent predictably similar ones. There was a degree of excitement about people getting extra pieces of a set, but now we're back to the evolving buildings and artefacts, will people really be going all out to try to get 2 extra artefacts instead of 1, or 1 extra artefact instead of none? For me, I can't think of a single occasion where I've needed either of the extra FA artefacts, aside from when there was a Phoenix event and I've been keen to convert those two extra to a single 2019 phoenix artefact.
Why it all depends how good or bad the prize is, if it's good it's good and more people will spend money on it.
As
@Karvest said it's designed to get more $$$ out of the pockets of paying players.
it's all about tempting players who are close but not close enough for the next rank to spend $5-20 on it to make the next rank.
I predict that this "feature" will be a great financial succes unlike some other features we have seen in the past. this looks like a real money maker.
as mainly a f2p player, I was at least tempted by this feature in the past (current live) event, not because I wanted the set, I don't care about the set and it's prizes at all, but by the portrait which seems / feels to be made especially for me.
I already started calculating, where does it end, do I buy the outpost? how many diamonds are I am willing to spend and/or how much cash am I willing to spend for it?
In the end I did not buy the outpost, instead I reserved more of my stack of diamonds, and decided to see where I end on the stack, then decide if it was worth it to pay for. (not willing to sink in $60 for a portrait, I am not that desperate).
Looks like I am getting it for free now as I was pretty lucky with returns and my server is not the highest money spending server out there so I do not need absolute crazy scores
But when you see live servers with already 350-360 staffs needed for gold and several days left to go, you know they have got a money making winner on there hands.