Honestly, i don't see why people hate cash shops. Cash shops are fine if they are used for non-progression items.
I hate to hark back to WoW for this, but they have run a solid cash store for years.. allowing you to change your name, race, faction or buy non-combat pets and mounts; All of these things are of absolute zero influence on the game and it's progression. From what i hear, they may be taking a trip down a bad road soon, with an in-game cash store... but that is Blizzard, and does not mean SE would go that route if they introduced a cash-store of sorts.
The end of the world mindset needs to stop; Seriously, every time someone mentions anything for this game, they only focus on the absolute -WORST- possible scenario and think that will be the reality. There are a lot of things to dislike about a cash shop, but that's only if the shop itself runs rampant.