Honestly nothing surprises me on web2, shilling game for payment or merchandise is probably one of the cleanest thing there... I mean come on one of them asks 500-1000€ to play a round of a steam game together, an other got paid 4000€ to insult a plant... If they do that there is demand, people are not normal to go for this...
I bloody hated when in an other game a founder fomoed and then everyone got screwed, I'm glad not to see that here and yeah after all the time and the difficulties I'm sure you're not gonna resign now