The fact that it always shows up in the Top 8s of various formats over the years speaks for itself
Abiding Grace Academy at Tolaria West Admiral Beckett Brass Advocate of the Beast Aerith, Last Ancient Aethermage's Touch Agent of Treachery Agitator Ant Aid from the Cowl Air Nomad Student Airbender Ascension Ajani, Adversary of Tyrants Alert Heedbonder Alesha, Who Laughs at Fate Alicia Masters, Skilled Sculptor Alrund, God of the Cosmos Angel of Destiny Aphemia, the Cacophony April O'Neil, Hacktivist Arming Gala Artificer Class Arvinox, the Mind Flail Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm Ashcoat of the Shadow Swarm Ashen Reaper Astarion, the Decadent Athreos, Shroud-Veiled Atraxa, Praetors' Voice Autumnal Gloom Avacynian Missionaries Avaricious Dragon Baird, Argivian Recruiter Baneful Omen Barrensteppe Siege Barrin, Tolarian Archmage Battle of Hoover Dam Belion, the Parched Bellowing Mauler Betor, Ancestor's Voice Betor, Kin to All Biogenic Ooze Birthing Ritual Blitzwing, Cruel Tormentor Blood Hound Bloodcurdler Bloodsoaked Reveler Bloomwielder Dryads Bowie Base One Braids, Arisen Nightmare Brainstealer Dragon Brass's Tunnel-Grinder Bre of Clan Stoutarm Breeding Pit Brightcap Badger Brightcap Badger Brokers Ascendancy Broodrage Mycoid Bulette Butterbur, Bree Innkeeper Cackling Prowler Cactuar Caetus, Sea Tyrant of Segovia Call for Unity Canonized in Blood Canyon Crab Captain N'ghathrod Captivating Glance Case of the Burning Masks Case of the Crimson Pulse Case of the Filched Falcon Case of the Gateway Express Case of the Gorgon's Kiss
Combined with the frankly outrageous state of things back then (4 Ancestral Recall , anyone?) leading to prolonged game states and impasses, WotC decided that enough was enough and restricted Ivory Tower
This shows that the designers are aware of what's been done before and are experimenting with mechanical identity
