I’m bewildered by your response, in a good way, mind you. Your honest answer provided me a lot to work with, and in return I wish to offer you the best response I possibly can regarding your situation.
I will be going in the order you structured your response, so you can match my answer in that fashion -if it helps.
It’s clear that GBX/2K are currently winning the psychological warfare when it comes to tempting their player base to forfeit more of their cash without actually needing to provide a satisfactory product. As of writing, we still don’t have our campaign DLC, so I’m not gonna give them a single cent. In your case, they are winning, since you stated that you’re so desperate that any avenue to get that taunt would suffice. My suggestion to you is: You’re better than that. Do not let them manipulate you. Do not let them beat you.
I’ve spent 140 UPR packs on the latest event just to get my Swing Away Galilea Taunt, 1 of the 2 booster taunts for Ernest, some random skins that are hideous and ugly for God-Knows-Who, and not a single legendary. I also really want my 2nd ISIC and Marquis taunts too, but I know a discount event and lootpocalypse will come back again and I will spend my hundreds of thousands of credits then, opening booster packs like I was opening Pokemon TCG packs when I was a little kid.
And this is 140 plus others I’ve spent before the event. It’s a lot of credits spent, but I don’t regret spending them because I had so much fun with my friends farming that money. Playing this game is supposed to bring you joy, and you’re making yourself miserable. I don’t see any reason for that.
What you can be suggesting is more events, more SHIFT codes, increases the selling price of items. GBX/2K will know they have won the moment anyone finally breaks and willingly throws everything in their bank account, including the kitchen sink, at their feet just for a few digital items. Once they realize they can take your money by offering next to nothing in return, the accountability will vanish.
As for the MTs favoring real money than credits is an obvious one. Battleborn didn’t hit financial expectations despite being a competent game. I may not have the numbers or the financial management between the developer and publisher, but what we all know is that 2K won’t release its grip on the MTs in order to milk as much money as possible from the remaining fanbase in order to reimburse costs.
This may also explain why SHIFT codes and other rewards in game are so scarce is because the more stuff we get, the sooner we feel satisfied, the less time we would be spending time in game, thus less opportunities to buy the MTs. I already explained how MTs in games damages the structure of the game itself to accommodate its existence, so I won’t go into detail. But you at least have an idea why things are happening the way they are. Not a pretty picture, I’m afraid.
Finally, if you really have extra money to spend… why not spend it on another game? Better yet, why not gather a bunch of friends and hang out at a mall or have a meaningful dinner together to strengthen bonds? I don’t know your real life situation, but don’t you think your money could be invested elsewhere instead when you have such a luxury?
Destroying stuff is easy, that’s why creation can be so beautiful. When and if the Battleborn community falls apart, I have to wonder how much work it will take to rebuild it -assuming it’s even possible.
I pray that this response had put your mind at ease in one way or another.