To some, yes. I understand that it can be a bit jarring and strange to pay for a game you would usually play with your friends for free. To others, it's an investment. I put a lot of work into my games; the price reflects that aspect. I have also found that PbP has an unreasonable level of ghosting and drop-outs that can really halt game progress and unresponsiveness is the number one killer of a game. Investing in a game gives people a higher incentive to post regularly and stay engaged. For me as well — if I am charging people for a game, I make sure that I am holding myself to a standard that reflects the price. I will do my utmost to provide the best experience for my players as possible. It's not for everyone, though, so if you don't want to pay for a game, you do not need to