The troop chest for 400 rubies was not pathetic. 6x troop cards, one of them being armored cars that are one of the best stronghold defenders, and 2x training and tactics blessings, pretty good offer for a free player.
This over here is a 25% decrease in cost for 98% decrease in quality.
But okay there is still space in alliance gate & command post to save up rubies for the (eventual) troop chest return.