Hmm.
Let me give a reasonable response without attacking anyone.
I think what many players have been advocating for while is fair WW match ups, which means that match ups are made based the on the levels/strength of the players/alliances. If this is the case, there is no way to pay to win. If someone is upgraded more, they get matched with other players/alliances that are upgraded more. There is no pay to win by upgrading faster.
So, for me, maybe I am a minority, but I don't consider it winning when someone gets the highest level the fastest and then can rain fire on all those littler below them. I see winning as when I take down my equal or those stronger than me.
And, I think NEXON intends* for equally matched players/alliances to be matched for a fair fight (in both war and mp).
NEXON is a company that has employees to pay, so they do need to make some money. In my opinion, if they make money by allowing people to upgrade faster (which is not winning in my opinion), I don't give a flip. I do begin to care when people can pay to have an unfair advantage that can't be gained by effort/time/skill.
Honestly, in my opinion, often those that spend more, don't learn to play the game as well, and in some ways are at a disadvantage versus all of us who have patiently trudged through the ages by leveling tons and tons of bases.
*Intentions really do mean nothing if there are months of inaction. I am talking to you, NEXON. Show me you can change, don't tell me you will "very soon."