The latter is mostly due to the lifegain, sure, but getting to bring creatures back even temporarily can be really strong
In green, Tyvars Stand provides hexproof and indestructible for one mana, but it can also act as a finisher by pumping your creatures power for X mana, ensuring the card is never a dead draw
Then, all players who chose to do so exile their hands and draw X cards
Even an army of 1/1 tokens can become a significant threat with this card on your side
Sword of Hearth and Home Marching closer to the end of the Sword of Protection from Colors cycle, Sword of Hearth and home does what I, and I suspect that lots of my friends, like to do: get additions lands (untapped, by the way), and blinking creatures with great enters-the-battlefield triggers