The fatal flaw with the current business model.

Why should I, as a player, be stripped for content just because I didn't buy anything. You're essentially condoning the retardation that is pay to win. They reward those who do pay way more than they reward diligent work. There's no legitimate proportion, just, you either die poor, hack or pay a grand to experience the fun parts of the game. The top 5% aren't because they are disciplined, it's because they have either cheated, lucked out from a glitch or broke bank.

Okay lets play. What content did they strip from you? Last I checked no one charged me money to fight a boss or do a quest. I'm not a fan of pay to win but I'm not too blind to think there's a viable alternative. They damn well should reward those who pay more than they reward diligent work, the paying ones are their entire business. Like it or not someone has to shell out money and if everything in this game could be had easily Nexon would have no money fast. The top 5% may have broke the bank but what does that prove? That being the best was worth the money for them (ignoring hackers/glitch abusers).

Any player with characters pre 2008 can make this argument. Anything beyond is just laughed off the stage. You really think merchanting is still a viable make thousands of dollars of nx? Ya know, without the cheating aspect? That's hilarious. Your friend, or your example does not justify everyone is successful from hardwork, especially in todays meta game. Then you argue that this is all justified based on the simple fact they know what their investment is?

I know merchanting is still a viable way to make thousands of dollars of NX. I also know it's doable without the cheating aspect. It's stupid to assume just because almost everyone pays their way to the top that it's the only way. There are other legitimate ways, they're neither easy nor viable for everyone. But you can make thousands of dollars in NX if you honestly put effort into it. Believe me or not it's been done in today's meta.

Most players, in fact don't. It starts off with "hey, lets get a good amount of % gear" and spend roughly a part time jobs entire paycheck. Then it escalates out of envy and investing into a character that can be independent based on boss drops. If you notice, most of these players are high school to mid college student's because they aren't mature enough to fathom what they are investing into. It's not like these kids suddenly come out of the wood work willing to spend 3 grand (For context, you can buy a car for that much, down payment I mean).

I'll admit self control isn't a strong point of most teenagers/young adults. But on that point these players aren't exactly thrift shopping. Those who are willing to drop 3 grand on this game are willing to do the same drinking with friends or buying consoles. They're going to make bad monetary decisions, that's how it's going to be whether or not Maplestory existed.

Your head is so far up your ass it's not even worth saving at this point. Their entire business model is to get as many players to spend as quickly as possible without them coming to this epiphany that there's not much at the top of the mountain. In context you threw away, what? 15k nx for 11 cubes or something? you say 60, that's $150, for how much of a % increase on your unnecessary damage? That's almost half way to a graphics card that can bump out enough graphical power to play a game that doesn't cost such unnecessary amounts of money. But that's your choice, you're having "fun". They hold players like you in because you love the constant growth, but other players throw $50 on heny clothes and run away. If they really did give two sh`its about the players as you claim, the ticketing system wouldn't be a nightmare, your account wouldn't always be at risk of being banned just for logging in, and god there's just too many to list.

I don't care about your personal relationship with the game, but the reality is, they don't care. If you got hacked tomorrow, because of a database leak, they wouldn't tell you, they'd hold you accountable, and all of your investments would dissapear, with little to no compensation. The next boss you fight, who you have fought a million and one times before, could auto ban your ass, they could tell you that they find you guilty without providing any evidence. In fact they will unless it's a dozen of players complaining the same thing. That's the liability you not only sign up for, but you're clearly not aware of. Either that or, like how I assume every maplestory player is, you're just a general masochist.

Never claimed they cared about their player base. I'm pretty sure they don't. Girasol did, but she's gone now. Yes the ticketing system is a nightmare. Yes they're not very good with customer service. I'm sure if I ever get hacked I'll be frustrated with it too. I'm not saying Nexon's perfect, far from it, but I'm saying their business model isn't broken. Just because you feel that money spent on this game isn't worth it doesn't mean everyone feels that way. The ones who are discontent are always the loudest and this is no exception. If every business changed their entire business model just because a vocal minority didn't like it there wouldn't be any businesses left. Like it or not you are a vocal minority. If this model really did lose as much money as those who are discontent claim then Nexon would have closed the game or changed the model ages ago. Anyone who's been here long enough knows Nexon's improved significantly in the past year and a half. They're actually giving compensation, they're better at communicating with the community, we even had a Nexon GM here for a couple of months. I get that you don't like Nexon, a lot of people don't. But this isn't about that, this is about spending money. All that matters is Nexon still makes money, we all cry and yell at them for being greedy but people still pay them. All that tells me is regardless of popular opinion here the product they offer is worth the money people are willing to spend.

Also note I wrote all that without trying to discredit you via insults, I suggest you try the same, it's amazing what you miss while you swear.