Non-slip rubber backing lets the playmat lay flat and prevents it from shifting during use
Yes, the activation cost is steeper than that of most creature-lands, but its a worthy price for the chance to bash for 20, 30, or even larger chunks of life
Then I found this and we were able to do it in a fraction of the time
(Candelabra of Tawnos, currently for sale) The second most expensive card from Antiquities is also a character in The Beauty and the Beast
We do have a couple more artifact creatures, the Brass Man and the Dancing Scimitar
Ramp that makes any color often comes with serious drawbacks, such as Fellwar Stone requiring your opponents to have access to that type of mana first or being stapled to a creature, the most easily removed permanent type