While it never reaches the ceiling of Toxic Deluge or Damn, it does give you a reanimate if you put seven mana into it, which makes for some nice late-game value, and makes it attractive for X-spell and big mana decks
The damage the card deals is pretty useful in any 20 life format, although less so elsewhere
Sorting by typecreature, instant, sorcery, enchantment, artifact, landor by function, such as ramp, removal, draw, or protection, helps you design decks with balanced roles
Specifically, the number of cards discarded and permanents sacrificed isn't tied to the amount of damage dealt
Historic Matters A handful of cards reference historic spells in these decks, with legendary creatures being specifically called out as both a sub-theme of historic and a general focus for both Commander and Magic broadly these days
Who should pick it: Players who want a handful of cards , not a full-deck print run