Ea "Where's my Rocket ship"!!!!!

I got barney and the bowlarama free last year during the christmas event, so not everyone payed for him.

They do often offer premium items for free, usually long after initial release, those who bought it at the time of release got to enjoy it and the benefits of having it first. "extra income from jobs and the increased Payouts. Typically the "fremiums" come with reduced job paypouts..

Or they could easily not include barney in the story line "Job wise" for those who do not have barny, but have him talk to homer in balloon form.