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Cause admittedly I have little idea of what I'm doing :/.

What does such a contrast do in the game?

I'm sure the clue will come!

In fact, the Summoner is the maximum level of playable cards.
With a level 8 summoner, you can play all cards at the maximum level.
The higher the level, the stronger the cards.

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Let's take VENARI CRYSTALSMITH as an example.
It is significantly stronger at level 8 than at level 1.

That's why a good balance is important. The (expensive) Summoner is not much use if the cards are not leveled up accordingly.
Conversely, cards at level 8 are of no use if the Summoner at level 1 downgrades this card to level 1 for combat.

Ah yes - I've got an imbalance going on with some cards.
I have, for instance, a level 8 Thaddius Brood summoner for DEATH and often play my MAXED Cursed Windeku (level 8).
When it comes to General Sloan who I used here I only have a MAXED Portal Spinner (should have used), so I do need to invest in maxing a few other strategically chosen cards. This was a fairly low mana match.
For my Tarsa the FIRE summoner I have a MAXED Venari Heatsmith to battle with and for my 2 MAXED WATER summoners (Vera Salacia and Kelya Frendul) I just have a level 8 Pelacor Bandit. 🙃🙂

I wish I had as many MAXED cards 🤣
But I'm miles away from that.

In fact, not all cards have to be at MAX, usually LV 6 or so is more than enough. There's a new ability and that takes you a lot further.
Do you have enough SPS?
You can use the GLINT you earn to buy REWARDS and level them up. They're not bad either.

Definitely don't have much SPS at all. Not sure how one acquires it nowadays apart from in battle wins.

So in the Rewards section of Splinterlands, do you mean to buy cards?

I don't have enough SPS either

You can buy it normally on HIVE Engine and send it to Splinterlands.
You can also buy packs etc. there at a good price.
It's worth it.

Exactly. I try to buy as many cards as possible there to build up my collection.