A lot of these games need you to buy something. I think they at least need a way to try them for free before you decide. Rising Star has no compulsory purchase, but progress will be slow if you don't buy any cards. Of course people will try to exploit anything with potential for profit and the developers have to decide what barriers to put up for that.
!BEER
I kind of understand the model. And I'm really not against paying or anything. I have spent more than I like to admit on things like gacha mobile games and such. :(
I don't know, I guess I just wasn't super into the idea of playing a new card game at the time haha. I opened Splinterlands again last night, may try it out for real this time.