That’s because it was a grind. Being forced to play against the AI for months or just super long periods of time in general in order to unlock stuff is and will always be a grind in a fighting game.Great post, and pretty much agree with everything you said.
Only thing regarding:
I agree with this, but i have no issue with allowing people to "buy" such items using in-game currency earned from playing other modes.
I didn't mind the rolling store in MK11, i get coins from playing online, but I can use them to buy things that would otherwise be locked behind stupid game modes like AI fighters. Sure you can't pick and choose exactly what you want, but like you said, i'm not owed it... if i wanted it that bad i'd play the AI mode.
The problem is that people are seeing it as a "grind" because they want to have everything NOW, as opposed to just playing the game and getting them organically over time.
If that's the case they may as well have a everything edition where there's no unlocks... then everyone will complain that there's nothing to do in the game because everything is unlocked. IF they charge extra they'll complain that they're getting robbed for stuff that's already in the game. If there are no unlocks casuals won't play because that's part of the charm.
I get that people want to use characters/costumes that they like or prefer, but as much as it's a fighting game, it's also about the little rewards you get during your time with the game. Not everyone wants to spend hours in practice mode training stage perfecting that almost impossible to hit 50% 21 hit combo, or only playing ranked online. It's all about the entire package, not just the bits that each person cares about.
Refer back to my post for why having the ability to unlock content as an incentive for playing online is incredibly beneficial.