Buffs gives incentive to large swathes of gamers to sacrifice items. Unusual, rare and ultra rare cosmetic benefits produces a brand new money making marketplace for people who wish to acquire the new makeup. Pet chance obviously grabs the attention of pet hunters who likely are the largest contributors. This way helps to integrate RuneScape Gold lore by using the gods makes more sense than a pit which people bottomlessly throw things into in the GE.

For instance of a buff: If you sacrifice things you gain Saradomin's Luck. This enthusiast would last 24 hours or until triggered. This buff gives your character a 75% chance to restore 50 hit points in the case your character drops to zero HP. After triggered, by committing into the altar the buff needs to be earned again. Buff only operates on PVM rather than PVP.

Having to contribute having to travel to wherever the altar is un-noted things from benefitting will prevent bots. It makes gamers have to give items for most effecient use. Maybe a complete inventory of addy bars is enough to find the boon, but cosmetic/pet opportunity is really only realistic with large ticket items. Much like barrows armor, whips, etc..

Trying to purchase whatever the random thing of the evening is would be a hellish experience on that day. I also see a lot of opinion on reddit about the demand for Jagex to take more action to curb inflation, but no evidence that it is really a problem in RuneScape. People underestimate how many mechanisms exist in osrs gp to take money.