The perfect definition of "Freemium games" (and why AH should never go this way -- because AH is already fun).
And they have it exactly right -- especially the "barely fun" part.
1) Make the game barely fun and about waiting (tech grinding).
2) Give the players rewards, fake currency.
3) Train the players to spend fake currency.
4) Give the players a way to buy more fake currency with real money.
5) Make spending real money a way to make the game more fun.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MS4VRbsjZrQFunny, but true, and sad, but funny.
<S>
Ryno