[EdwardDiego]

Yep, the DLC model can be quite obnoxious. Paradox has gone hard on DLCs and cosmetic DLCs are all fine and dandy, but some of the features locked into other DLCs (No espionage in Hearts of Iron 4 without a DLC, no amphibious tanks without a different DLC) are, IMO, core gameplay components that shouldn't require payment.

But I was happy to pay for a DLC that gave Commonwealth countries unique focuses.

[opportune]

If you are patient Paradox games become reasonably priced over time during sales or through bundles. Also they are so much more replayable than other games, it's perfectly reasonable to spend $100-250 on them (I logged >1000 hours in EU4 before a third of the DLCs even came out).

I like that their DLC model gives them the opportunity to support and expand games for so long. I don't like that their base games pretty much stink until they get at least the first few DLC though - there's not much reason to play CK3 when it's so content-bare and CK2 exists as a "complete" game with tons of content.