When I started 7 years ago faucet was around 1000 sats! So I guess you are right, the faucet has become irrelevant for many, but at the same time, it still can be some start for people who don't have coins to deposit, or for people who don't want to deposit! I say it can be a start for people who are ready to claim for a few weeks and then try to multiply that amount! It's hard but it's not impossible to grow your bankroll from scratch, it has to be really slow play, looking for some "safer bet" with a lot of patience from day to day! People do that, and some people succeed!
I started maybe 5 years ago and it still seemed pretty big to me at the time.
I actually still get close to 100 now with the full bonus satoshis (from wagering), and I don't even think of it to spin it roughly 5-10 times a day because it's just on my mobile of computer waiting, so all in all I can get about 1000 a day, not to mention if I hit it bigger. It's not a small amount for doing literally nothing so I'd say it's not as irrelevant in the medium and long run.
I get what you mean of course
But like you said, it's amazing what a few months of rolling (+ WoF premiums) can do for a starting bankroll.
I also startet 5 years ago and worth of the cryptos I own is now about 5000 $ (never bought anything with fiat). Its not that much for 5 years, but way more than nothing and if prizes go up in future - who knows?
Initially my goal was to collect 50000 Doge coins and at that time one could do this easially within a few months. Unfortunately I did not hold them till they reached 50 Cents.
Personally, for me this is like a hobby, other people may collect stamps or coins its not much different and its fun for me to spend my sparetime with cryptos.
I have to admit, my record stands at 23 rolls within 24 h with the 1000 multipier at freebitco but this is not normality of course.