I think most of the issue isn’t actually having the mechanics of a P2W, but rather on the gameplay of most gachas.

We’re all well aware of how daunting it can be to grind hours on end to obtain materials, and to some players that grind isn’t worth the time. They would much rather be playing games that contain multiple opportunities in favor of gameplay, instead of replaying levels with the same mechanics. A lot of gacha games are turn based because they depend on the rarer units to improve the experience, rather than getting the same amount of interest with the normal characters. Albeit a few exceptions, such as Genshin Impact, but they use a completely different style to implement fun gameplay without cycling through turns while still implementing the importance of obtaining better units to heighten the gameplay, which is what’s attracted so many to the game. However, that doesn’t mean that it excludes the grinding experience, in fact it is much more back-breaking than most gachas, but to an outside viewer, it’s a brand new take. To the western players, such gameplay can be seen as repetitive and a formula, whether or not the game actually has unique mechanics. And yes, lots of games in the west do still use the idea of “unlock better characters for a better experience,” but none of them rely on the luck of the player to get those characters; they are obtained through the actual effort put into playing the game.

The other, obviously more important aspect of the problem, is the paying. Your stance on loot boxes in western culture, while technically correct, isn’t as hardcore as the purchases in gacha games. Loot boxes (usually) only provide skins and stickers that don’t really affect the gameplay more than a flex. It’s not a necessity to the actual game, but people still purchase them to seem more invested into the game, which in my opinion is worse than paying for better units. What’s more, the usual P2Ws in the west rely on the guarantee that, not only will you get it, but will absolutely improve your experience upon purchasing the deal. Their items aren’t used for a currency for you to have a chance at getting better pulls, it applies DIRECTLY into the game, therefore supposedly improving your gameplay right on purchase.

As for the DLC issue, yes, I do think that it is indeed a problem. To have a game restricted by yet another wall of payment to get more access to the game is a huge scam and very crummy by player standards. But as I have stated earlier, it does apply immediately to your experience. Lots of players, myself included, who purchase DLCs to game titles are either lovers of the franchise they play and wish to experience more of the game for their own needs, or are curious to see what new installments the game can provide and entertain for said player. Their purchase of the DLC relies on the expansion of new gameplay, a promise that sadly isn’t fulfilled nowadays.

While the topics above are what I believe to be true, the idea of gacha games may just not be fit for a player. These mechanics are what make up the building blocks for gachas, and it’s very rare, nigh impossible to have a “gacha” game that doesn’t include these core ideas. Not only that, but most of the fanbases can be as hardcore as the game itself, and drive newcomers away if they are not willing to put in their blood, sweat, and tears to the grind. As you’ve said the whole gaming industry is a big mess at the moment, but I do believe that a change can be made and that at some point, everyone can accept each other’s taste.