In fact, many of the best stuff running around is oriented toward the big side (Stoneforge Mystic, Restoration Angel, Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir, Consecrated Sphinx, Vampire Nighthawk, Gray Merchant of Asphodel, Feldon of the Third Path, Azusa, Lost of Seeking, Silklash Spider, Courser of Kruphix, Prophet of Kruphix, Brago, King Eternal, Kuldotha Forgemaster), and thats in addition to creatures specifically designed and included for defense like Walls and other cards with defender
Further to this, it is still very much a bell curve distribution, making most of them basically as good as each other
TCGPlayer places the valuation for the Enchanted Shere Khan: Menacing Predator at $183
It might be borderline impossible to collect a single copy of every Magic: The Gathering card ever printed, much less a playset of every card, but if you've ever wanted to build out a set, like a collection of a specific set, it could be something like a challenge to collectors
The life loss is real, but having a 3/2 creature that reanimates something when it enters means you can blink it, reanimate it, or sacrifice and recur it for repeated value