Completely agree. When you see a business model like this, you know everything about the game is made to get you to spend more money and spend more time in it rather than actually have fun.

Maybe that's to be expected from SaaS B2B software or something, but there's no reason to settle for this kind of garbage in games. Tons of alternatives exist in older games, indie games, and even some AAA games where there is a creative vision with a goal that isn't to empty your wallet or waste your time as much as possible.

On Steam this is not hard to do either. There are so many excellent games out there. And if you really want to minimize the cost of games, become a patient gamer. Play top-rated games two or three years after their release when they show up heavily discounted in the summer/winter sales. By then all the bugs have been ironed out if it really was an excellent game, and if the game turned out to be disappointing, it will be reflected in the reviews by then.

Or just get Factorio. You'll never have time for any other game ever again — or a social life for that matter.

Update: The non crap you bought is now micro transaction crap. Bait and switch!

Have you considered alternative ideas now that benevolent capitalism and resposible consumer are falling apart?