I now "level up" 3 times a day, and it means nothing.

Hate to break it to you, but this isn't about you. After 3 years, the game has become harder for a new player to get started, compete, and stay interested. While tapped out is continuing to make money - it's not making as much money as it was and its numbers are plummeting as far as popularity in freemium games goes. No new players, no fresh money coming in, no more tapped out.

So they're helping making sure the game you love continues - nothing to complain about.

You're getting way more free donuts a day than a newer player will - so nothing to complain about.

And finally - what other people are doing really shouldn't diminish your enjoyment of the game - so nothing to complain about.