what is so attractive about tf2 keys?

The keys are used on boxes which can give rare items. It's gambling, and people love gambling.

They work for Steam like cigarettes work in prison.

it opens things

I played tf2 for like 20 mins... I just dont get it :/

It's an official Steam currency.

I do this I traded some games for tf2 keys and all people I gave keys only accept them because its safer than paypal.
No one use them or play tf2.
they simply use it again for trading or sell them on the market, so its like virtual money.^^

A key is like 1.70€ in community market.

To most people, it's just another currency used for trading.

They're popular as you can trade them using the Steam client as opposed to sending money through PayPal.

But if you buy them from steam then they lose value once you want to trade them... so are all games traded on steam sale price bases?

They are a good currency as you can either use them or sell them for steam wallet.

What is so attractive about money?

So in theory the keys will end up in tf2 player steam account sooner or later... So what will the tf2 player get out of the box that makes it worth it?

I cant remember the last time I bought something on the steam store with money straight up. I just buy TF2 keys for quite cheap and trade them for games and get them much cheaper.

Look, just get some tf2 keys for your tradeable games... Then, trade some tf2 keys with trader in other regions (like russia) where the games are cheaper... You could get blood bowl chaos edition (that is 10$ on sale) for 3 tf2 keys.. the equivalent of a 5-6$ of your game on sale.

Profit.

1 tf2 key = $1.35 USD

They sell quickly on market for 1.88 steam wallet... (before valve costs)

you can trade with people who can buy games cheaply for cheap, and they can make money on steam-market. It's a nice system.

You use them to open crates for shiny hats. Everyone loves hats

Unusual El Jefe
Cloudy Moon
$1199.99 -- Unusual Ol' Snaggletooth
It's A Secret To Everybody
$849.99 -- A Carefully Wrapped Gift (Hat of Undeniable Wealth And Respect)
$524.99 - price for some items are insane o.O even stupid Vintage Fan O'War starts from $142.49

This explains all.

dat guy can help!!!

You have to understand that TF2 has its own (crumbling) economy based around metal and keys.

Metal can be gained while keys have to be bought with cash (thus why they have inherit value).
Keys open crates that may or may not have a really good item in it (that you can further sell).

Unbox something really good and trade it for more keys > trade keys for games = Profit.
Some people don't even play the game anymore, they just trade and make money/games of it, depends how much time you're willing to invest.

So, can crates and keys be had in-game just from playing, or does one have to buy keys? And these items people are buying... are these also things that players can earn just from playing? Can they be lost or taken away, too? The OP is right, it's all a bit baffling.

How the heck do i even get those keys :O

I prefer bitcoins. I don't have any TF2 keys or bitcoins, but bitcoins seem more useful.

they turn me on

you can hoard them in loads and they acts as a universal currency to get games from russians