This removes a lot of the fail cases of traditional cantrips
I like the base 3/3 and generic to activate the Curator, and I like the +1/+1 counter and lifegain on the Scavenging Ooze, so if you have slots for green cards, why not both
Contraband Livestock is a fine replacement, and probably displaces Fateful Absence and the like, and a great budget option too
In the right build, the human bear is a viable threat
I can lead with a Faithless Looting and discard two Bloodghasts and then I can put a fetch land into play to trigger the vampire spirits to come back
I just think the card is well executed it being an artifact plays well with Urzas Saga, Improvise and Springleaf Drum, and unlike Thalia, Guardian of Thraben where youre locked out by the tax, you have the choice with Esper Sentinel which presents interesting in-game decisions as you have to balance the tax on the mana versus providing your opponent with card advantage a similar decision to that of being on the play or on the draw