I have yet to drop a penny on this silly game and have nearly three million total population, four million simoleans, over 2K sim cash and have had just about enough of this pointless game.
I have pretty much reached the maximum for development of the main city and to endlessly craft the same items over and over to build in my regional city is monotonous and annoying.
Newer player are stressing because they have so few resources to start and support a region so yes, they are being forced to pay with real money if they want to get ahead.
Well played EA since there are millions of suckers ready to give you their money.
Not me, never.