You might be right, I came across badly there. As they say 'my bad'

For EU players (only I believe) on the official web site is mention of the 'Loot bag' offer - the usual sort of crap that goes with pre ordering an expansion pack, but for sale without the expansion - a chance to buy items really. Buried away on the site was something about 'more offers to come' of the same variety (Non freebies with the xpansion pack but stand alones) I wish I could find the link again now but I don't have time - or energy, been a long day, forgive me :)

Again: if you really didn't want to see item shops in the games you play, what would you think? Of course someone may have really screwed up website there.

As for f2p in general: Not a fan to say the least but let everyone do what they want; there does seem to be a lot of what smells like propaganda about it at times though, like it's a softening up campaign to prepare a skeptical core base of subs folks for what's going to be universal soon. I'd sooner see a mix, but as I say, it's not the end of the world, but a bit sad if it's too be.