While yes the hunt for phat loot is real, I don't subscribe to the whole, "this game makes us powerless to our desires and we have no free will." It removes any sense of agency that we as individuals posses. This game will never be as addictive as say, nicotine or heroin. As an ex-smoker I can attest that quitting the habit (not physical addiction) of smoking cigarettes was hard but doable and I haven't touched one in two years now. All it takes is willpower to say, "nope, I want to spend my time doing other things." I played WoW for years, and admittedly, I was addicted to that game. Usually putting 8-12 hours per day (with high school in the mix as well) for years! But you know what? The luster from the game waned and I lost interest in it after I realized, all of these grand achievements were more meaningless than achievements I made in real life! I could never take those achievements and sense of accomplishment with me outside the game world. I chose life, the real world over digital pixels. BF Skinner was an asshat and his theories while interesting to ponder (like those of freuds) are outdated. Have I preordered the taken king? Nope. Will I ever buy it? Maybe, if it goes on sale. So far I've only spent $50 on destiny and expansions. And $25 of those dollars went to buying a second hand copy of destiny, which both activism and Bungie saw literally zero compensation for, from me at least. I'm not impressed with the pricing model vs. content for this game, nor am I impressed with several design (or lack there of) features within this game. I simply use this game, like most games, as a way to occupy my over active mind when I'm bored so that I don't fall into a deep depression riddled with crippling anxiety. I don't enjoy being around people for the most part so doing social things with others is never that much of an option. I enjoy cooking, traveling and being in nature. But I can't be on a permanent road trip or else I would go broke. Life is filled with the mundane, and video games are a good way of turning that mundanity into something extraordinary.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WBNdrJMwrkc Watch this video from E3 2013. Never buy a product from Bungie again. Spread this and show people the shadiness behind their tactics.

I know about this but I don't play because I want stuff. I play for fun and because I enjoy the gun mechanics.

You post this like Destiny is the only game that preys on peoples' addictive tendencies. Play virtually ANY game and you'll notice that it's all about: The next level up The next stage The next piece of gear The next weapon The next boss The next skill/upgrade The next collectible The next achievement There's a carrot in every game. If you're not chasing it, you're not playing.