My brother is level 37, has been playing for about two weeks and has opened maybe ten chromium packs (he's f2p), and has still not got a single character other than the generic ones everyone starts wi...
Granted, CG slaps you in the face by giving you shards right from the start, but my point is that you get shards as well. And its the same starring system. Only MFF is more grindy, but also more generous with shards.