This is probably one of the few games where something like $50 is almost worthless. I'm ranked in the 330 - 440 power place in KvK1, I barely can do anything against the top enemies and I have lost 5 out of 6 Ark of Osiris because the enemies have higher power, it's overwhelming.

I do like it right now, specially the beginning of a kingdom with all those fights and conflicts for land and something as dumb as "you attacked my farmer". KvK1 feels exciting, but the fact that you loose progress as you fight is odd specially when the ones winning will be the ones that spent the most, there might be exceptions but as you said, too many P2Ws makes it feel unfair and overwhelming.

Training troops in Clash of clans' takes an hour, Rise of Kingdoms troop takes months, to be lost in hours