So, when "passive" ISK was shut down from district ownership. It slowly evolved the game. You saw corps basically die, and traditional protostompers all but disappear...
Corporations that were on Nyian San's payroll basically became non-threats in public matches; Nyan Chan, LORD-BRITISH, etc

Squads weren't eager to spend a collective 6-10 million ISK just to win a public contract battle. But since the NPC market, I've seen the trend happen again.
Non-PC playing players and corps throwing millions of ISK into public contract battles. Where is this ISK coming from? They aren't selling Templar BPOs, ringing for PCs, have no districts to farm, AFK-ing doesn't work...

Where did all of these players start getting a bankroll to afford 1M ISK matches? I've watched players lose 2-3 proto tanks in a pub, or lose 5-15 proto suits, crash ADS, after ADS, etc... it doesn't add up.

You can argue all you want, but DUST has always been a a pay-to-win game. But this "economy" is broken. Taking away passive PC ISK was nota good idea, however the new payout system is a good replacement.

So, I'm asking each of you (non-PC players); where is your ISK coming from?

So, my question still hasn't been answered.
How do non-3rd party invested players afford to run top meta gear in public contracts?

Am I just lucky and they only use proto against me and lose profit against me? That would conquer that I'm making many, many, many, many, many players go broke in this game...

It still baffles me, and my common sense is telling me that it isn't adding up. ISK neds to come from somewhere. Most of the wealthy players in this game (and by most I mean ALL) did it through playing PCs and winning, taxing a corporation, and selling codes.

Public match players cannot generate profit using proto gear when all they play is public. So, WHERE ARE THEY GETTING THE FUNDS TO DO IT?

Also if you want ISK, and you see me in game. Ask nicely, I've almost never said no to anyone. This last week I've paid for many people's APEX suits :)