It's so Awesome to See All the Cool Stuff Are Now in Cashshop.

[Karious]

"Just vote with your wallet!"
Meanwhile the limsa afkers will buy 6 of the same thing just to spite you. Not buying something doesn't matter anymore because there's a dozen people who will just buy absolutely anything SE puts out.

[Renalt]

"Just vote with your wallet!"
Meanwhile the limsa afkers will buy 6 of the same thing just to spite you. Not buying something doesn't matter anymore because there's a dozen people who will just buy absolutely anything SE puts out.

That's because they approve of it. It's their money. I'm not so arrogant to say what others should be doing with it. I only have control with what I do with my money.

[fulminating]

That's because they approve of it. It's their money. I'm not so arrogant to say what others should be doing with it. I only have control with what I do with my money.

Do you know what a whale is?
It's an individual who pays enough to be worth hunting for and catering to, distorting the game under their oppressive weight. It doesn't matter if 99.9% of people don't pay $35 for a reskin mount; as long as that 0.1% do it will remain profitable and worth damaging the game over. This system is a necessary evil in free to play games - but this isn't f2p is it? Not only is there the monthly subscription cost, but the optional monthly extra retainer cost (up to 7 more directly), the companion app monthly fee including another extra retainer, past event rewards on the mogstore and the regular exclusive additions to the shop. While it shouldn't be necessary to mention, I will at least credit them for not having layer upon layer of obfuscating currency to hide the true costs, nor being able to directly buy power beyond the "catch-up" books (level and story sold separately).
Whales being so uncommon, yet having so much impact does necessarily mean that their purchases affect developer decisions and thus every player in the game.
Cash shops are a cancer that will only grow and metastasise if left unchecked.