Should labels 'ditch' random photocards to 'member' album versions?

Actually I have wondered why they don't do that....

The pro would be no more bulk buying just for photocards but the con would be that the popularity gaps would really show and I could imagine that being really demoralizing for less popular members. Some groups I could see it working out though with Seventeen's Carat versions already doing similar

Well, then you have to determine what kind of fanbase each member has to make sure you produce enough, or you can run the risk of over producing for some and under producing for others.

Might also hurt some feelings to be honest, but I don't see a downside to doing it that way.

that would be very toxic, making members compete against each other

What companies should do is to systemize "platform" versions of albums ie. versions with minimal packaging and no physical content but a photocard. It's what CLASSy did for their debut album. Isn't it also what NMIXX did with their $6 versions? I'm not sure.

Anyway, this way it's cheaper for fans to collect photocards and it doesn't generate a massive amount of unwanted physical copies that end up in a dumpster.

loot boxes??? loot albums???

because one isn't certain which PC one is going to get that incentives people to buy more to get their fav no?