Quote Originally Posted by ShinigamiZero View Post
1) We are already paying a subscription; why are you charging us even more?
I'll say it again because it seems people still don't notice this.

Subscription entitles you to access the servers (and gives you two free retainers + character slots if you chose a certain sub type). It does not give you any access to the content at all, technically. That's what buying the game and using the registration key does. In the case of the base game, the ARR code gives you access to the 2.x content. When the expansion comes, the Heavensward code will give you access to the 3.x content. And by content, I'd personally understand that to be the story. Things like Extreme versions of primals could be considered extras, that could technically be "paid content" if SE really wanted to go that route.

Now, you may not agree with that as a business decision, but that's more how it works (much closer to the "my sub fee gives me content" which it doesn't).

Under that knowledge, items that are in the cash shop are sold separately to the content that the key gives you access to. This is known as "additional charges/servers/options". There is no restriction on what can actually be made only "paid for". That discretion lies solely with SE, and as you see they have exercised that for certain items.

If you want to see more on this, check out the User Agreement that you agreed to when you started paying your subscription.

And just so it is there in the open, I don't disapprove of the cash shop. If there is something in there that I want, I will pay for it. Unfortunately for SE, I'm not a huge minion/mount collector (though I do like to get new ones) so I haven't bought those. I do, however, pay for the extra 2 retainers and have also paid for the platinum eternal bonding wristlets (x2). And if content such as extreme versions of battles, which do not drop anything other than titles or vanity only items (lv 1 things that are simply for looks), then I'd probably buy that too. And as much as many would complain at that, those who enjoyed that kind of content would probably pay for it too (though they may no say so so openly like I have). To be honest, it'd balance out the complaints from those who consider minions/mounts to be content (which is absolutely fine by me; if that's what you find fun I have no reason to disagree).