Yeah, the problem with explore is that it's ramp that sometimes doesn't ramp, and pump that sometimes doesn't pump. If you play this really needing another land you'll probably end up with a 2/2, and if you play it really wanting a 2/2 you'll probably end up mana flooded.

Like, neither of those are bad things, but getting what you need beats getting something good every time. As little bonus extra that sometimes makes your mana more consistent and sometimes beefs up a boi, it's not bad, but as the only extra on a 1 mana 1/1 it's very unexciting.

What I'm trying to figure out though is if "Explores twice" would be too powerful for a legendary creature? Maybe if it was a 0/1?

Edit: Also, is it just me, or does it really feel like Tom Scott, of all people, should have a leaves the battlefield effect? Like, this is a card that should do something cool when it exits, right?