The legacy of 19th Century US policies regarding American Indians is still very much a sore issue in the US, and while I cant comment on Central American sentiments toward the Conquistadors, the few people I do know from those regions are largely indifferent to it at this point
Maralen, Fae Ascendant gives you more cards as elves enter the battlefield, and if you control a lot of elves, you may cast them even for free
While many of the cards were at least somewhat playable, the standouts include Tooth and Nail (which was a Standard staple and sees fringe Modern play to this day), Promise of Power (which still shows up in black Commander decks, mostly because drawing five cards for five mana is a pretty great deal in a 40-life format), and Rude Awakening (which offered both combo potential thanks to the land-untapping ability and a way to close out the game by turning all of your lands into random 2/2 beaters)
These work best in token decks where you cast something like March of the Multitudes or Secure the Wastes to dump a ton of threats into play, winning out of nowhere with the right board state
the lower-end cards