There is a P2W aspect to it though. 2 people start at the same time, one uses potions and one does not. The person who potions gains access to tome gear and rewards faster than the other person. The person who did not use a potion will have a longer wait time until they get to that level. By the time that person reaches tome gathering stage, the other person has already gained a number of items. In this example, someone could make the case that the payment was for tome items since that is what they gained in the end. I am not saying that is my position, only that the statement could be made and have a level of validity to it.

While, using a potion does not give them an advantage over everyone, it does give them a tangible advantage over some people.