Unfortunately this logic has caused a lot of low quality content. It's just like phone games have found that if they release a game and nickle and dime people to play (buying hearts, or gems, or whatever) they can make way more money than selling the game for a $1 or more.
Don't blame the game companies, blame people for chasing the cheapest option. At some point the cheapest option is free and as a company you still need to make money. Hence ads and IAPS.
The problem then becomes, if all games are free, how do you hold a users attention? Addiction Loops...
You can blame companies for that... The horrid addiction and attention problems mobile games (and social media) have created in society.
It's worst than what you blamed them for and sadly, it continues despite the damning proof.