becuz keys can sell back into the market for USD2.xx, which is less discounted compare to items
Keys are considered a kind of "exchange rate" between IRL money and dota 2 items, due to the fact they are roughly the same cost no matter what currency you use to buy them. Due to the fact they cost real money to buy their trade value is relatively stable, and thus it's easier to establish prices in keys than with other items which cost real money.
Keys are NOT for opening chests! Opening a chest is a HUGE waste of a key in DotA 2. Keys are used as the currency of DotA 2 because they have a very stable cost (~$2.50), so it is safe to assume that if I sell my item for 5 keys and the cost of the item does not change, it will always be worth 5 keys. If you see an item in the store for $25.00 but you don't have steam money, you can trade items like rares and mythicals for keys, add up the amount of keys you need (25.00/2.50=10), and then trade your 10 keys for the item.
Conclusion: Keys are currency, not for opening chests.
Also, a better alternative to keys is steam market: http://steamcommunity.com/market/search?q=appid%3A570
There are several limitations like "unmarketable" items and steam taxes, but at least you don't have to worry too much about selling too cheap or buying too expensive.
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1. im juz wondering why does everyone want to have dota2 treasure keys(e.g(H)something something (W)20keys ect.) when there are so few types of treasure chests available to open. having less chests also implies that the items available would also be very limited. for instance i understand that some really rare items like drodo(a courier) worth around 100 keys..so what do you do with so many keys??
2. keys are pretty expensive each is about 2.50USD(and the only way to get is to buy) so how the heck would anyone want to buy so many keys to open chests that only would give them limited amount of items(the value of the items probably worth less than half the keys they buy)? the only rationale i can think of is that dota2 keys are juz playing the role of "currency" in the game and no one is going to open chests with it(only to trade). meaning that its like gold in mmorpgs u can use them to buy items from other players.
ppl plz help to explain the dota2 trade system(or rahter the dota2 "economy") and correct me if im wrong anywhere or point out important things that i have missed out and unaware of. thanks in advance!!
P.S, if there are any sites/forums that have alr explained all these plz tell too thanks!!