People really need to stop using that "straw man" term, it doesn't award 'em any bonus points! (It often does quite the opposite, actually)
Yeah I'm sure we'd all love a free Spirit of Tuan, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea from Nexon's end
Don't talk like the massive amounts of gold in Alexina wasn't brought in by cheaters botting shadow missions, and MA tourney after missions got nerfed. This isn't "time and effort". It's automation and abuse of the terms of service.
The high prices are set by the people selling the goods. Those people have the goods to sell either because they spent real money getting NX to buy them, or they patiently built themselves up over time via buy low and sell high. Gold sellers allow inflation to occur quicker, but even without them there would still be inflation.
Let's also point out that people outright eat you alive if you try to say that you are planning to report gold sellers/buyers and modders.
So proud of this community.
Inflation is a problem but it's also an unsolvable issue. If players can choose to avoid gold sinks they will. If they enforce using gold sinks then the cure is likely going to be worse than the cold. The only way to be immune to inflation is to be a seller yourself. The super-rich in this game are so because they put the time, effort, and in many cases expense into being so; it's a game, no one was born wealthy. Unless everyone is willing to do the same there is just going to be a two-tiered virtual society. Doesn't this kind of thing happen in every multiplayer online game?