[moviuro]

I kind of like how Path of Exile[0] handles that entire issue:

* PoE is a Free-to-Play game. On paper, it's totally possible to play without giving them one cent.

* PoE offers 2 pay-only features: account modifiers (such as stash tabs to hold items that drop while playing, and your personal premium hideout if you want one); and character skins + vanity portraits + in-game pets that don't help you + ....

Only the skins are in lootboxes, and you may also get the one skin you want at a fixed price (a $3 lootbox can hold any items that are $3+ combined). Not sure about the odds though - I havent seen them published anywhere.

As a gamer, I enjoy playing a game where I'm not a cash cow: my items in-game have the same drop rate as that of my neighbor; and I don't mind paying for nice-to-have "optional" features (the game is quite fun BTW).

[0] https://pathofexile.com

[jbarberu]

I also tend to bring up PoE whenever I need a good example of how to do free-to-play right :)