This most famously came up at the first competitive Magic event that was formally sanctioned by the DCI
Since Team Up is a modern release, most cards remain in decent condition, so you'll typically choose between lightly played (LP) , and near-mint (NM) copies
Values are substantial enough to justify sophisticated fakes
Tapping is essential in Magic, and this merfolk protects that interaction beautifully
But as a card most at home in the sideboard, Negates mana efficiency is perfect for combo or control match-ups when you need additional stack interaction, and when noncreature spells are exactly what you want to answer
the actual Pokemon (as characters) are simply better at this: theyre recognizable, personable, colorful, you can pick your favorite and theyre easy to remember (like Sanrio characters)