They were also much simpler and smaller back then with often extremely limited specification variations. And DRM existed back then too, with some fairly egregious and infamous physical DRM checks.
The availability of the item in-game doesn't matter. If anything it's availability in-game being "not that big of a deal" just showcases further the scumminess of it all being that purchasable item exists only to scam people by tricking them into thinking any modicum of money is worth a one use item.
And even then, if nobody complains about it, then they'll still continue on as they will. They'll do so regardless, of course, but at least you can say that there was pushback of some kind.
There's a mod right now that adds the item you need to change appearances to a vendor for like 10 gold, so I'm not really sure what cheats it's preventing exactly.
The problem is that those two things look exactly the same without the added context that you can't fit into an easy title and people won't read the details anyways.
In comparison though, it was basically one and done. Assassin's Creed is a fairly long running franchise, God of War and Mario too technically, paired with bits of nostalgia. Palworld can always improve and still get attention past the first month.
You don't think it'd still be the same even with the headphone jack still there? Wireless headphones and converters for wired headphones do exist, they just don't care.
Not to mention that Steamworks DRM is practically non-existent anyways (and that it also wasn't necessary to use, it's rare, but some games just don't protect their game with any DRM).
I think the thing that's really getting to me (and probably a few other people too) is the image above. Taken at face value, someone in a wheelchair, seemingly in the role of an adventurer. Well-dressed and can afford a wheelchair, with magic, seems like they could probably have gotten that healed if it were just a normal injury. Healed or otherwise resolved in whatever other manner.
Not to mention, the context certainly does matter and can make inclusions come off as preachy.
Wait, what do you mean about the pity system? It's identical for between Genshin, Star Rail, and Zenless.
I think it's, what, like 90 for 5 star, 10 for 4 star. Standard and Limited banner tracks their own counter. Pulling on one doesn't reset the other.