After FFG stopped making Android Netrunner (which was based on Richard Garfield’s original Netrunner), a volunteer group called nisei took over making new cards, maintaining ban lists, and writing comprehensive rules that somewhat make sense. On the green level clearance discord I see a lot of new and returning players. It may be because proxies are now legal in all tournaments or because people can play on jinteki.net which works like a free mtgo, but also there is a new format called startup using only the cards since nisei took over which is more balanced and beginner friendly than previous formats (though you can still play rotating standard and/or eternal)

It's always good to hear a game find new life, and I've only ever heard good things about Netrunner.

If I wanted to try out the game, what would be the best way? The idea of buying all those boxes was always daunting.

You can play on jinteki.net

Proxies are legal in all tournaments now, you can print off your own cards from websites, or get better quality prints of some of the latest cards from the official volunteer developers

You can practice system gateway against the AI at https://chiriboga.sifnt.net.au/

Or join the discord for more info https://discord.gg/d4zUvq8u