> then why even play it at all?
Because it's been hyped. Because game sales is to a large extent about that pre-hype, not the gaming experience.
Publishers have (correctly) realized that the games themselves are following the same mechanics as in-game loot boxes.
You might also think that these poor/disappointing experiences would turn gamers off from buying the next game because they were burned the last time, but no that's not my experience either. The gamers disappointed about the release of AAA game 2018 from one studio, will happily buy the 2020 game on launch day from the same studio. And the studios know this.