HSR player here, after a while it really is like this. You figure out the meta, get good characters, and then save pulls for whoever you want.

2/2 So I'm also a natural saver, and make sure I always have enough for pity. I'm joked about being The Rich Player by my friends, one of which is a consummate pack buyer. It's not the Time you've been in a Gacha; it's the habits you form, or are formed by, playing it that makes your experience.

I'm 8 years into Fate Grand Order and I'm just rolling for love of the characters. Never went past dolphin, and only bought packs for Dailies and Guaranteed event Banners. It's really nice being able to roll for attachment to personalities rather than abilities.

So true, you captured the feel perfectly. I've played Epic Seven for almost 7 years and I'm just sitting on a hoard of most resources and only pull for god-tier waifus at this point

Yep-yep. Started Azururun at around 9m into EN release, and struggled a ton to get everyone without putting money into the gacha. But a year later i cleared out every even comfortably, and by the 3rd year - ~700 Wisdom Cubes, only ever going up as time went on, never once dropping.

-> who tend to use IRL money to circumvent the whole mechanic for a cheap shot of power-fantasy, which makes the power-creep feel even worse and makes them pull hard for the next OP character to recapture the same high. IMO gachas are the most fun when you're F2P, or maybe minnow-ing them.

I unironically consider the year-one state where the gacha makes sense as an actual gameplay mechanic. It's effectively enforcing scarcity, and forces you to ration your primo currencies and build around what you can get. Unfortunately it's also the time that grabs the whales ->

Does STO count as a Gacha?
I know it has random chances and Pay to Win Purchases. Those are kid of the same as Gacha right?

That's why I only play gachas like:
1st year and 5th year: "She's literally my waifu, I will roll" (Genshin, never roll guys, guys)
1st year and 10th year: "She's literally my daughter, I will get her in the event" (KanColle)

I have a big family.

It even has the thing about how lots of gachas resort to being sexier and sexier as time goes on.

I've never played a GACHA because the thought of "you will own nothing and be happy" with such online games bothers me. I'm old school and like to own a physical copy that will still work, even when the servers get turned off. That being said, I do purchase the Genshin Impact soundtacks off iTunes.