It started out OK and I got 75 total stars plus a lot of game pieces, but then I hit the "Not a winner" x4 with that snowman for days on end and that kinda stinks. With the expanded board they have lower-value prizes like the $1-off or the 150 stars (if you get all 3 pieces), so you'd think they could at least award more of those. But I'd agree that once you hit that plateau and start seeing as many snowmen as plays you have for days on end it takes the air out of the balloon.

Ahem...they're also going from 50 stars currently to 100 under the new system for a brewed coffee or a bakery item, which means twice as many stars required.

The best arrangement was if you're really old school and following the 1971 business model for consuming mainly brewed coffee mainly on-premises AND you could bring your own mug for the 10-cent "cup discount" that also means you get awarded 25 stars. I don't see any changes mentioned for that, but I do constantly have to remind employees of it because most forget to apply that at the register nowadays (and I think it still applies only in the store, not to drive-thru).

So they're going from buy-2-get-one-free to buy-4-get-one-free. While still arguably not bad, it gives potential competitors an opening. Near me there are a few smaller scale places (Fuel, Valor, PJ's, Biggby, etc.). Unfortunately some are too diurnal for me and shut down at 5, but ones that stay open until 7 or 8 might get another look. Especially as Starbucks lately around here seems to be on a campaign to make furniture in stores as spartan as they can.