This game is pay to progress, but not pay to win... yet.
As MMO veteran I played many others/older/korean MMO games before BnS and I can easily say, that BnS have one of the easiest (and maybe best) progression system. Compare to many others MMO i don't need spend 20e/50e/100e per month to even start progressing.
Few examples: Fiesta - 2 years to finally reach max level. it cost me 100e per month in average. double exp boost, no death penalty item and hp/mp boosts were essentials for progression and cost me 30e per month + many other things player needed. 20-30e just enhance one weapon (protection stone to prevent destroying weapon, protection stone to prevent downgrade, stone to get higher chance for success - all this items was store only). AP boost, defense boost, stats boost, everything was available in store for real money. This is pay to win. Dragon Nest - 1 and half year to reach semi-max gear. 50e per month. Store costumes have permanent additional stats that really help boost your character.
BnS - playing this game actively only 9 months and already have semi-max gear on my main + full VT sets on my alts. And it cost me almost nothing. Sometimes I bought something, but usually costumes. Yes I'm playing 5-6 hours per day in average, but this is how MMO games works. Also clan helped me a lot.
CrazyDude90:
And what you will do when you reach max gear? Don't tell me, that you will be enjoying this game same as before.
I have semi-max gear and reached goal I wanted. I don't need max gear to do end game content and because of that I'm already loosing interest. Only I can do now are daily/weekly quests, few raids to get some money/materials and my motivation to play this game going down quickly.
You really want that?
P.S.: Sorry for my bad English.