Considering a standard casual table (4 players), you may get one out of three different buffs whenever it is your upkeep
I don't think new players will be lost, by any means, playing the Amber and Amethyst deck, but there's something very immediate about the Sapphire and Steel deck
But its still a powerful card
Foul-Tongue Shriek can also take someone out by burning someone for each attacking creature you control while gaining that much life to keep you in the game.
If that mana value meets your discover X value, then you stop, otherwise you continue exiling from your library
With Serum Visions you draw a card, and then scry your next 2, getting to put them on top in any order, or move 1 or both to the bottom of your library