: A very tiny example of things 343i can do to safeguard the spirit of Halo:
: story expansions
: alternate endings
: extra side missions
: new cut scenes
: weapon skins
: timed exclusives
: armor permutations
: vehicle skins
: achievements
: multiplayer maps
: character voices
: new difficulties
: new game modes
: upgraded texture packs
: extras like commentary and unreleased media
: expanded stats
: online record keeping
: emblems/patches/titles
: daily/weekly/etc challenges
: access to easter eggs
: special campaign and co-op loadouts
: throw some of those rec cards in non PvP modes
: hell, throw them in ALL the non PvP modes
: ...and many, many, MANY more choices

: and

: The one and ONLY thing 343i can do to utterly destroy the spirit of Halo: pay
: to win micro-transactions

: The problem we face now is a combination of: Ass holes with money to burn
: that want to cheat by gaining an unfair advantage in game but normally
: wouldn't be allowed to due to a long standing history of modding bans and
: game rules made and enforced by the game makers.
: and
: Companies who are so greedy they would rather support the above group than
: support honest players and the previous game makers history of combating
: ass holes who try to gain unfair advantages for almost a decade.

: What a match made in heaven.

But if it is only for this mode (so far it looks that way, I certainly would hope that traditional MP doesn't use this card mechanic) is it a bad thing?

It's not just Halo, many games are adopting and experimenting with this model.