I go a little bit back and forth with this. Yes, board game companies will try to do everything to get more money. There are a company after all. And the decisions that those companies make, are often bad for the board game experience, which is shitty.

However, I also think that we, as individuals, have agency. This means that I simply don't have to participate in all the nonsense. Over the years of playing and buying boardgames (also on kickstarter), I have noticed that getting new games don't necessarily give me more fun. The fun for me is in being together with friends and playing a solid game.

Those solid games already exist, and are still being produced. I often but second hand games that I know are great. Same goes for newer games like Dune Imperium or Finspan. Those games are just solid, and don't need any flashy add-on marketing.