TF2 is getting a big update. Some are worried though that it's mainly just a watered down Counter Strike
http://steamed.kotaku.com/team-fortress-2-is-becoming-more-like-counter-strike-1715467393
It sounds like this will include some balancing tweaks but the part that is similar to Counter Strike is the cosmetic weapon skins. These have zero impact on gameplay so I don't see any reason to get upset over this system.
I have been playing CS:GO quite a bit recently while I wait for an Arkham Knight fix since I got it in the Steam Summer sale. Even though these skins are for strictly cosmetic purposes people go crazy for them. Many people have at least one for each gun and knife in the game. A quick look at the
community market shows several of the more rare skins selling for as much as $400.
The skins system randomly drops locked cases or a gun skin to some players after you finish a round. If you get a locked case you have to buy a key from valve for $2.49 to unlock it. From my limited experience with the game, cases seem to be much more common than skins. Before you choose to unlock the case there will be a list of 30 or so skins that could possibly be inside and they are color coded by rarity.
It's kind of like the lottery. For your $2.49 key you'll probably get a skin you could have bought for $0.04 on the community market but there is the chance for some rare skin selling for $80 or even $400 on the market. Steam has to be making a killing off this stuff. There is no actual value to any of it and they get a cut of everything.
I have about 14 hours into the game now and I have 3 skins. Two of them were dropped as I leveled and I ended up buying one key to see what the case system was all about. Each of my 3 skins are selling for less than $0.10 on the community market and they are all for guns I rarely use. I doubt I'll be spending any more money to open my case drops but I will equip the skins I get for free.
Anything I get that can be sold for more than a couple dollars will be gone without hesitation. I would love to be able to sell a random cosmetic drop for a few full priced games.