Shit, some games are just winning currency. Look at “social gambling”. It’s just gambling without the ability to win your money back.
There’s an imbalance of power in it.
You can spend $10 for 1000vbucks or whatever. That costs you. There’s no way of you getting those vbucks on demand exactly when you want it.
The game provider on the other hand, can shit out vbucks until the cows come home. Doesn’t cost them a thing.
In some cases, free credits make them money. Heavily discounted credits for your first purchase entices new buyers into breaking the “first purchase barrier”, which drastically makes it easier to sell a second time, even if the price is 10x.
Free credits can also lure players who have had a bad streak back, and back to spending money.
In game currencies exist to detach you from the true cost of playing games, and to give you the feeling of being rewarded with something of value.
It might be more efficient per acre, but it’s less efficient per person-hour.
As the weight goes up, the stress on the skin goes up. But the skin doesn’t go any stronger.
So you need to feed, support (literally) and manage them round the clock to control their growth and stop them from splitting and allowing pests and bacteria inside.