A spell's mana value is always based on that spell's mana cost, not any additional costs you pay
If an effect instructs you to sacrifice a creature and you control any creatures other than Alexios, you must sacrifice one of those other creatures
I guess it's also possible to play the card in Knights or Soldiers, although it is awkward that the token isn't the right creature type for the deck
"Whatever you're looking forfood, family, Halowe've got the best in town." Card Details Set Streets of New Capenna (SNC) Rarity rare Colors GRW Artist Kari Christensen Collector # 172
That said, getting a bunch of artifacts and cheating out expensive artifacts isnt exactly the most difficult thing to do, so its potential to create bursts of mana lends gives it a place among its fellow lotuses
Unfortunately (for Survival), creatures got better and eventually Caleb Durward helped lead a Legacy revolution that finally got the card banned there to go along with its previous Extended ban