Paying to get to the part you enjoy isn't necessarily paying to get to the end and who's to really say who is playing the "right" way. If you're having fun then it's the right way as long as you aren't hindering someone elses fun generally. Crafting doesn't really have a skill either. You aren't learning timing, or group dynamics, or mechanics, just rotations that have NO time limit.
It's a little like saying people who pay for fastpasses in amusement parks are wrong. Just because they didn't stand in line like everyone else doesn't make the ride any less fun for them and the people who DID stand in line aren't necessarily "earning" the ride, just doing what's necessary to get there.
And once again nobody said it had to be instant cap with gear, you still have to do that last bit of grind and gearing up for true top tier crafts.
and as for children gambling with real money I have some pretty strong opinions and ideas on that one but it's very irrelevant to this topic so I'll just leave it.
I guess I don't play those games. I play 3 "gatcha" games and have only spent money (about 30 bucks) on one , once. However in all 3 I'm competitively kitted out and current in story and power levels.