It is gambling, with some valuable "pulls" and intermediate steps that grant a plausible non-gambling veneer (such as having to sell the card on eBay instead of just pocketing money, etc.)

I never see kids using the machine at my local grocery store. I see adults, the same ones that patronize the CA lottery machine located next to the Pokemon machine, loitering while waiting for the next set of packs to "unlock" (they are on a timed release to manage the stock).

It's a depressing sight.

we have one of those by our office and it's funny how every day it says sold out but there's never really anyone there.

one time we did walk up to it as a few unscrupulous looking guys were hanging out and we figured they're just waiting for a restock. I don't think those vending machines really do anything to prevent people from getting as much as they want.

The card vending machines are effectively rate limited, you need to wait to make a purchase. This is so one person can't empty the entire machine, even if they have multiple payment methods.

What incentive is there for the machine operators to do this?

Not getting yelled at most likely. There are enough vocal people who complain if these machines do not act "fair". So it often is easier just to change how they operate and not have to listen as much of that.

Before the rate limiting, there were physical confrontations around the restock time. Spreading it out prevents them.

It also works better for the stores that host those machines, where they are supposed to draw in customers, if cards are randomly available throughout the day as opposed never available.

> was humourously-surprised to find

I see. How would you describe the expression on your face, at this point in time? Perhaps, compared to one of the popular characters?