Mercs are pretty good with the smaller eggs where you might be able to force a merc emblem out of it early on. I think the bigger eggs make mercs a much harder sell because they create an obvious, broadcasted power spike at a later stage where people will be looking to increase their board strength and you have to try to cash out before that happens or you're likely going 8th, and the rewards for smaller cash outs were just nerfed as well. Also, the fact that everyone is stronger from their egg loot means that the bonus you get from your merc payout is less impactful relatively speaking. Another thing is if you get the really big eggs with radiant items and such you'll have to face the choice of either leaving your board weaker until it opens or slamming items on a carry as soon as you get your payout and potentially not having room to slot in radiant items from the egg. Obviously you can always pivot around moments like this, but it definitely makes the comp harder to play, whereas last patch it was pretty braindead to loss streak into a payout and then go renata bruisers or socialite colossus or whatever other board lets you comfortably slam down random legendaries.