No! I do not agree with this post and comments at all.
I've notice that there a number of people who complain about Defenders, etc., demanding that the STATUS be lockable. The reason is, as I've stated in other threads, that some want to be able to utilise their card slots for other cards. I think this thread is proof of that point.
I like to use the Defender, and I don't mind the fact that others may choose to use it - or not (and I will do what I can to counter a defender when used). I do not think it's acceptable to demand a change of the status of Defender simply to please a faction of players who don't like it. The point is that there are multiple ways to counter the Defender, and certain other cards. Whereas, it's also quite clear that certain decks are overpowered when it comes to poison (and certain other problems). The poison mechanic is, in itself, a problem (it's quite a poor mechanic that needs an overhaul).
Interesting to point out Poison as being a worst mechanic than Defender considering Poison is almost always a 1 for 2 and mostly take your unit one by one.
Defender, on the other hand, remove all interraction your opponent can have with one of your row (while it's not your entire board because, let's be honest here, nobody's gonna play a unit on their "weak" row anyway) which is genuinely the worst thing that can happen to a card game. Do you realize that Defenders prevent players from playing the game and reduces it to a brainless "I drop my card, you drop yours".
A card game is about interracting with your opponent, if you remove that aspect, then the game is dead and the only reason why that didn't happen with Gwent is because there is ways to deal with them (that absolutely everybody is including in their deck for obvious reasons), so if you're lucky enough to draw an appropriate removal you're allowed to play the game (thank you very much, this is too kind).
Playing the game shouldn't be an option that you have to fight for in a card game...In fact, it shouldn't be an option in any game ever.
You can defend the mechanic as much as you want, this is clear that Defender is hurting the game far more than Poison does.
And the funny thing being, I don't even like Poison as a mechanic, I agree it's not the best idea CDPR ever had but if I were to choose between redesigning one or the other, clearly this is Defender that has to be taken care of first.
And this is where, while I don't agree with everything the author of this thread wrote (for example, I don't think anti-artefact cards are an auto includes since your opponent get most, if not all, the value of their scenario by the time you play them anyway), I do agree with the general idea.
CDPR really need to realize that "side board" cards are not improving the experience of a game that doesn't have any but only give an illusion of fixing the problems it has.
Please guys, focus on improving the balance and redesign all "hardcore" tech cards so they actually serve a purpose outside of the very niche situation they're designed for.