Talk:Front-Runner/@comment-162.97.179.26-20160507093824/@comment-26715739-20160507115932

I think the question is: how many people who fully upgraded the car have ALSO paid to skip a stage?

That's the key. If enough people are willing to spend BOTH to upgrade AND to skip then frankly that's any chance of winning with skill out the window (especially if numbers of those willing persist through releases).

In the past I think FM's philosophy was that because of TSM they were a bit limited in how they could do these special events and try to maximise money. Career never really veered into "free to play, pay to win" because PR is simply a gateway system, but it feels very much like that's where we're headed now with the special events.

BTW "free to play; pay to win" is also a big part of why I'm not at all surprised that we're now seeing easier bots after upgrade - it makes perfect sense if the aim is to encourage spending. In the past an upgrade gave 1 advantage - better car; now it gives 2 (better car, worse opponents).

All depends on the money really. If the sort of gouging we're currently seeing increases revenue (at least in the short term) expect it to continue. FM's problem will be if it's just a short term increase (ie people pay this time, but then quit) they've got very limited mechanisms to get people back.