I'm staunchly against end user exploitation and I'm usually quite vocal when it comes to players getting royally shafted but here's the sticky wicket.....
Players are free to walk away from it all whenever they choose. No one is forced to spend on WGT.....forced to see ads or hole in 1 challenges.
WGT cannot be blamed for trying to generate extra income by whatever means they see fit. It's their website, their business and as such, they will have a business strategy geared to earn them more revenue in order to expand different areas of this game and any other projects they're developing, including their baseball game.
There is still the free video / surveys for credits option open to people (for now anyway)
However...........
If particular balls are too expensive for folks..............don't buy them
If particular equipment is too expensive for folks ...........don't buy them
If adverts annoy you...........install adblock plus for you browser
If hole in one challenges irritate your bowels............turn them off.
The options are there for you to control.
Problem Solved!
Personally, I choose to spend money because to me money's less expensive than my time.
tbe