This kit has everything you need to get started
See the picture below for a comparison, that is not a variation present on real cards
I dont think you can compare any current release to Commander 2011 , though
On top of that, there are also a handful of creatures that have lifelink outright: If you are in need of life, Heliods Intervention is an X spell can gain you life equal to twice the amount of X
While some are discontinued due to marketing failures, others simply evolve into new types of packs to satisfy the players
The Gaffer gave us the 3 or more life clause, and Haliya came along with Edge of Eternities to give us a Soul Sister in the zone, that also draws cards, which is pretty neat