The wepon skin-gambling part lies strictly with Valve and the $2.50 key mechanic, with a minor but vital support from popular commentators like Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill. You can unlock a skin that sells for six digits; you will (99.9999999%) unlock a skin that sells for $0.17... And Valve will take 30% of that sale.
If we do away with that. Maybe we should also ban Magic The Gathering and like. After whole one ring serialized card it is pretty clear that whole thing is just an unregulated lottery...
Skins provide nearly-zero gameplay value, so for those, the analogy with lottery holds. But Mt:G cards have entertainment value separate from their dollar value, so that's fundamentally different.
MTG cards could be sold only in pre-constructed decks or even like living card games. Nothing mandates them being exploitative loot boxes filled mostly with filler...
Wouldn't it be better if you knew what you were getting?
I only play draft, so no.
It's not, not really. Prices of new set cards are basically set by a box price and the probability to get said card. If the price is too high, people will buy a lot of box, other cards in the same set prices will fall, until the price is right.
I don't think MtG should be banned wholesale, but I agree with your lottery point. That facet should go.