In a capitalist economic system, for a product to have a price, there just has to be scarcity. And if no inherent scarcity exists, it must be created. And for there to be profit, there has to be a monopoly. Hence the copywrite/patent laws which turn software into property, which someone has monopoly power to sell. I don't hate the player. I don't even hate the game until somebody can show us a better game. It is what it is.
Congratulations to them for solving their revenue/growth problem. And in a way which didn't alienate most users and customers. A great case study.