Comparing the Halloween Event and Xmas, the Xmas one was a lot better. In both events I got cosmetic outfits for about half my girls, but in the Halloween event I was restricted to the girls I had unlocked. As for greedy, both options to buy stuff only were bonuses to the existing options to buy diamonds. The 6500 and the 800 Gold option. The diamond amount was increased and as a plus Mistlehoe got some training for free. Big spenders of course got that other elf.
Actually worked for me last week, but got almost no training done. This week they seem to have fine tuned the match making. I get mostly opponents that are a little above or below my stats.