Here's Mike Mearls in an interview on Fortune cards:
http://www.livingdice.com/5029/wiza...iew-part-2-of-2-dd-gamma-world-fortune-cards/
"MM: Similar to Gamma World cards, we are going to be doing fortune cards for D&D. They are collectible cards that give the same kind of random dramatic element to the game. The player can alter the action a little bit by using a random benefit. As a whole they make the game a little more unpredictable and makes things work out in an interesting new way.
"Also like the Gamma World cards, they aren’t designed to build an optimized deck to get a more powerful character. they are designed to be random and add chaos to the game."
Mike calls them collectible.
Here's part of the original press release:
http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/02/01/dungeons-dragons-fortune-cards-to-debut-february-2011/
"Available in 8-card booster packs with differing levels of rarity, D&D Fortune Cards serve as another avenue for excitement around the game table. Whether players collect them all, or just use two or three boosters to build a deck, a player’s tactical options for their character will change and expand in interesting ways."
Oh look - 'collect them all'.