Official statement from Valve.
We shared with the NYAG that these types of boxes in our games are widely used, not just in video games but in the tangible world as well, where generations have grown up opening baseball card packs and blind boxes and bags, and then trading and selling the items they receive.
You’re right! We should stop that too!
I thought I remembered loot crates being rewarded randomly between matches. Did Valve start selling them and I missed it? Or what’s the real issue here?
I’m pretty sure they are still given in CS2 but now you have more chance of getting a bad skin or graffiti spray then a loot crate.