Of course I respect your opinions, as much as anyone else on here. When I see something I disagree with, I'll make my point to offer another perspective - but I wouldn't bother if I thought I was wasting my time or talking to idiots
This is an important distinction. I think they encourage managers to spend tokens because, scheduling problems aside, the stuff you mention is about a player's choice
If you want a full compliment of rested and happy players, with the option to change your formation, then you might have to spend money. But this is not stuff you have to do. It's what players want to do to win games
I'm testing this by having a non-token buying team, just finishing their first season. It has 22 players, one for each position - so if the schedule gives me two close games then I just switch the line ups. Most players were free signings and I chose the formation based on the players I could get, rather than my main team where I could afford to go for whichever players I wanted. Early days, but the team is top of the league and cup semi-finalists
The game is available for free, and there are many players who play without spending any money. Some want an advantage, so they spend cash. Fair play to Nordeus for creating an app that people are prepared to spend money on to get further - but no one is forced to do so