If all InnoGames are interested in is money, they are going about it all wrong. There is nothing in the game that can be purchased that is not also available through hard work in another way. There is nothing in the recent updates that makes it impossible to progress, they have made it more challenging for both Premium and free players.
I started this game 18 months ago because it seemed challenging and worth some time. As I progressed it got easier and easier, though more time-consuming. The recent updates have restored the challenge and revitalised my interest in the game.
It is true that when the first changes to the battle system came out I had to stop fighting, because, as a Human, I could see that I needed to wait for the Mortar to become available. But I did not stop producing troops, and indeed took advantage of the issue that caused Priests to turn into Mortars when they were introduced. Although I am more than 20% ahead of where I 'should' be for the next Chapter, I have still enjoyed some success on the battlefield, and have maintained an Army of 9 squads of each type of unit, ample for my needs.
Sometime in the next month or so I will have finally produced enough Shrooms and Loot to get rid of the Orcs and move to the Woodelves Chapter. They may actually get several Chapters ahead of me, as I have no need to hurry up and wait.
I do not feel that this game should be maintained to fit into the ad breaks on a TV show.
Yes, there are still some discrepancies, but they are heading in the right direction, with no indication that they intend to stop part way.
And I still haven't spent any money on the game.