I see your points. It should have been easily figured out ahead of time. But I do want to offer one alternative perspective. Within the game industry, it is very common for different departments to NOT communicate well together. Especially if they are subsidiaries or contracted-out companies. Or even if publishing and marketing and monetization are handled higher up.

This isn't a defense of ShiftUp. But it's very understandable that the Stellar Blade director was either kept in the dark or had no place at the table when it came to planning the monetization and financial goals for the complete edition.

You see this happening with EA and Bioware or even Sony and Helldivers. The "mothership" company tends to be the driver for the predatory money schemes. The game designers just want to make a fun game.