Quote Originally Posted by Imoen View Post
Soo what you are saying is, your personal threshold of P2W, extends in to hundreds of dollars? Please correct me If I am wrong.. I stand by what I said though.... your "opinion" or "definition" of what p2w is, doesn't, actually change what p2w is. You are just saying what it means to you... personally.... and that is perfectly ok, and I'm willing to accept that.
Sigh. I don't know how I could articulate this any better. I specifically said a consistent advantage where buying power is the most optimal solution. The number was merely an example. It's the consistency and optimization which determine pay to win. At least, in my opinion.

To give some FFXIV examples. Say our Relic weapon was upgraded each patch cycle and it was definitively BiS. The grind associated will take nearly three months, however you could buy the needed components from the mogstation. This is pay to win because by the time you've grinded it out, the weapon will be invalidated within a few weeks-- making the most optimal solution to always be spending money. Another example would be in Savage, if the Gobdip, Gobtwine and Gobcoat all had their drop rate reduced to 5%... but were made purchasable on the mogstation. You can't farm them per Savage loot rules, thus you have to either pray to the RNG gods or spend money.

It's that consistency and optimization that factor into what is pay to win. You're buying power, and you always have to in order to keep up.