I started DS only to earn gems for Restaurant Story 2, and I planned to abandon it after leveling up to meet the RS2 goal. I liked the game but was finding it hard to acquire coins, food, and maps to advance. Then the Skylord leaderboard event happened. Without even paying attention to the competition, I placed 6th and earned enough to keep me going while I figured out the DS game play. I wouldn't be playing the game now if it weren't for that leaderboard event.
This time around, I'll be happy to place high enough to get some coins and food (especially food!) but the habitat and 1st dragon milestone make a nice bonus. I figure there will be other events with other special dragons in the future. I'm more in need of expansion space and habitats so I can hatch the dragon eggs I have in storage from the last couple of events.
With about an hour left in the event, my group's scores range from 2326 to 1151, with the top 7 players all within 100 points of each other. A lucky wheel spin is enough to jump you two or three places in the ranking. The top 10 players have been leapfrogging each other the whole event. I don't think anybody is using gold, although I wouldn't blame anybody that saved up gold for a last-minute boost at the end. It has been a good event for me.