I am one of those users who would rather plunk down $10 on the counter and get a full game, with no in-app-purchases. I was infuriated when EA announced that Real Racing 3 would be freemium. However, there are some reasons I've come to grips with the model:
- The timers actually made it more realistic, since repairs, services, upgrades, and deliveries are not finished instantaneously in real-life. In a game that is called Real Racing 3, it can be a good thing, in a twisted sort of way.
- A bigger reason is that the timers stop addicts like me from playing the game 24/7. Got a one hour repair timer? Time to crack open the books and do my homework.
- The premium cash isn't really that rare. You get 3 gold per level, 5 per every five levels. That can quickly total up to enough to buy a McLaren MP4-12C, or if you wait longer, a Porsche 918 RSR Concept. Since the game has a level cap of 1000, it is possible, if you save up enough and play long enough, to get every premium car in the game (McLaren MP4-12C, Porsche 918 RSR Concept, Pagani Zonda R, Koenigsegg Agera R).
- Time Shifted Multiplayer is only going to work on this kind of game. And let me tell you, it's super fun getting to cream your friends any time of the day, as many times as you want.