This patch..

You can still play for free, just extremely below-par with Evan. With very, very low survivability.

And don't forget, you can always MTS for NX (like I've been doing), or you can do the free NX surveys. It's still free even if you want a perfect Evan. It just takes time.

The point is that now it takes NX for a character to be able to max all their skills. Before people that didn't get NX couldn't buy 2x cards, shop permits, AP resets, and all that stuff, but there were always in game alternatives, like blood build instead of HP washing. Now one can't make their character stronger without getting NX in some form, which to many buying may be the only option for one reason or another.