Any digital version of a Magic card is going to be dependent on WotC continuing to update the game it's found in, whereas you'll still be able to trade your bits of cardboard after the collapse of civilization (though I'm not sure how the fall of humankind would affect card prices)
They are also a theme that was greatly strengthened by Promethean Princess
Once we get things set up, we actually want our opponent to attack us for huge amounts of damage because the end result will (hopefully) be our opponent dying, rather than us, thanks to Gideon's Sacrifice
For example, when mill was turned into a keyword, not only did new cards use it, but every existing card that moved cards from the library to graveyard received updated oracle text
A cute little Counterspell that gets you some value too
Activate only when a monster is Special Summoned to your opponent's side of the field