There is definitely a bit of skill involved, but when you have level 3,4,5 and a few level 6 cards, against maxed cards you are going to lose. Many of the choices made if they were of the same level cards as the opponent would have won the game. Beating higher level cards is not always impossible, just very unlikely, I have beat level 7 and 8 cards a couple of times with my level 5 and 6 cards, purely because of card choice, they went with magic, I went with reflect, type of thing. But it only happens rarely.
I do understand the cost of the game, I too have spent money for booster packs, perhaps not as much as some, but still I have spent some. I had hopes of the tournaments, I still hold some hope out for them. I even came in third on a recent tourney with 14 players ten of which I am pretty sure were in the top 50 season ending, so maxed deck does not equate to skilled. Lack of maxed decks does also not equate to un-skilled at the game, but right now it is a fishing game with dynamite used as the bait, toss it out there let it blow then go get the stunned fish.