Not a PC gamer but know it is rampant there right now. The Free to Play/micros even in $60 games, etc. Feel luckier I'm 33 bc would have gone with it as par for the course like you said if I was a kid. Game of the Year Editions a year later are just fine with me. All the articles on gaming sites are related to new skins, loot boxes, how to get to this rating, etc. for Destiny 2. Borderlands (wanting to open boxes in general is oddly fun despite the get they found) and COD started this in my opinion; at least on consoles.
The micro stuff is on the gamer themself and I couldn't even try to compete with the online mp shooter games I see being played so not talking down to folks who do, etc. The company shouldn't allow your pocket to determine your skill level/loot items/schematic, yada. But the players keep coming back like you said so this model will continue until players stop trying to best each other and paying for all this micro stuff and let those games that use pay for skill model to die out. More from an outside OL shooter player's perspective. South Park had it right again.
