Hate to pop your bubble... Oh what am I say, I love popping your bubble. You might want to look at this link.
http://www.gamingclimax.com/mmorpg-a...d-the-longest/
You might want to reconsider your train of thought. To think that FFxi is the longest running RPG style,
which is mainstream and popular, is almost delusional.
There you go again with the history lesson. Relating DnD to FFxi is like relating DnD to every known RPG in existence. Obviously DnD of old did not have a cash shop... you're comparing apples to oranges. If you want to play DnD so much, stop with FFxi and go jump on DnD 5.0, which sucks more balls than anything else out there.
You can call it what you will, history lesson or citing old concepts and business models, you are still referring to something that is in the past.
Obviously cash shops are new. They have only been around for the last 4 years or so. With the mobile/social markets thriving at the moment, companies are finding ways to give consumers products they enjoy. Even MMOs, which are social by nature, are looking into adding shops with similar products.
Yes, some are pay-to-win type games and they have their own nitch. But as I have stated before, I did not say they should add any of those types of products to the catalog.
And lastly, DAMN Stompa... you old... Good to see old retired people still play MMOs.