Pfft... $180 puhleez...
I probably spent over 4K on the original Shaiya (
http://shaiya.aeriagames.com/) during the three years that I played. I had a pretty kick ass character... one of the best Mages money and mountains of time could buy. $100-$200 a month habit.
Still have the character and all that rare gear... but the game economics fell over. Some people spent waaaaay more than me and had gear that is impossible to farm (some hacked from back in the day). Rumors of people in Japan spending $25K USD because it was pocket change for them. I found myself playing *only* with people that have invested lots of money. No new people could come and compete.
I walked away from all of that when my computer broke. Now I have time with my family and actual sleep: where I am not playing a video game from midnight to three in the morning and then going to work at 7... almost every day.
So yeah... I get the reason... and I know it is a business, but since I find I am unable to control myself with pay to play games, I would rather just buy up front and play to play.