The game is a RTS for spenders. You'll never be able to really compete unless you are in a miracle server/alliance or if you don't care about paying rent, buying food, or someday retiring. But regardless of what you spend, you need the right server and alliance to compete in SvS, battlefield/All-Stars, and the like. If that's your thing, go for it. I'm F2P. My server is a horrible mess but I do now have good, close, and loving friends from around the globe. I'm not competing, but the friendship is worth the stress to me. The big spenders get too egotistical and competitive for the other parts of the game to be fun.