There's the option to add new ISK-only tiers as you start selling more and more Aurum tiers. If everyone can buy a proto-BPO the top players don't get quite so antsy if they can still use a MegaHyperProto dropsuit that only they with their massive ISK and SP can fit.

Bare in mind that adding tiers is difficult and resource-intensive (we still don't have racial variants of dropsuits after all this time) but introducing a BPO of something that already exists and is reasonably balanced is both easy and profitable.

We all want Dust to be great. It won't be great without development. There won't be development without real life money. And real life money is most easily acquired via new and exciting BPO's

Actually, adding new tiers of existing equipment just means a new colour scheme on the existing model.

It's no more intensive than adding the AUR version of the same item, and if they're donw at the same time, it would make the process even easier.

Add an AUR Advanced item, and a Proto+ version of the same item for ISK. That way, the top-level competitive players will still be running the top 2 tiers and lower-level players or those running BPOs will run "cheap" gear.

In response I put to you "Last chance to get these Merc pack items before they go away permanently!" and then a week later they're in the Store. We'll see the Omega boosters again, despite the allusion they were a one-shot deal, precisely because they were bestsellers. Everyone knows there's no scarcity of digital goods so to make it seem so and get people to part with money quickly you have to lie.

When the real potential for more money is involved, a company very quickly forgets its promises. CCP has proven that time and again. And ten years down the line is less important than being able to pay the wages now. They would have introduced Gold Ammo into EVE too had it not been plastered across the media, causeed an immense player backlash, and threatened their bottom line. With Dust, however, world + dog expects Gold Ammo to an extent since the base product is free.

I too would hope Dust goes the way you hope it to go, but I would stake an immense amount on it going the way I believe it will.

McDonalds has been doing it for years with its nasty little mcrib.

1 - That particular merc pack was removed, not the items. It seems you failed to read "The items however will be available for purchase in the store.
2 - Of course we'll see omega boosters again, they are a wanted item. Saying "this week only" implies its a limited time offer, not that its a one-shot deal.
3 - Limited time offers on popular products are a proven source of profitable income. McDonalds has been doing it for years with its nasty little mcrib.
4 - After 10 years of providing enjoyable games to enjoy, increasing their revenue to begin developing a generations first console to pc integrated virtual world and providing it for free, i have no doubts that CCP will make this game into the dream they envisioned.
5 - If you "worried" about CCP's financial state, buy a merc pack and donate money to them.

Would like to point out that all of the BPOs in the packs are for reskinned (and renamed) Standard gear.

I have 2 different AR BPOs, the Exile and the Dren, both have the exact same stats and equipment requirements.

I run BPO gear because I have .79 KDR and am a terrible shot, so I would rather not use (and thusly lose) ADV and PROTO gear in even match to survive. So I just run around in Free/Cheap fits until my skill improves.

1. Actually, that clarification about those items being available in the store came some time afterwards. If you check this announcement you'll see the post was edited about two weeks after it was initially posted. Easy to miss for your average person, but the sharper ones among us know what's going on.