@KarvaRausku Overwatch didn't have to make them free. Other retail games lock heroes. But Overwatch has a balance they've crafted between the heroes. Locking heroes throws that off.
On the subject of money, Apex doesn't have any real room to brag with their high priced skins, collection events, battle passes, and everything else they've monetized.
Overwatch gives away a lot more loot boxes too, one per rank plus free boxes in the arcade and at least one per day in the queues. This includes when events are active.
Overwatch has added custom game lobbies, arcade modes, PvE co-op, and a variety of new and different ways to play. Overwatch 2 will greatly expand the PvE aspects with a campaign, more co-op, and hero skill trees.
Apex is not doing anything to expand the game beyond more ways to spend money on cosmetics.