I hardly see how that is at all the case. The game is F2P and if those who play for free aren't satisfied with the payment options, they can always just continue to ... not pay. Stating that not being to obtain the same or like item for the same price from one period of time to another is one thing but to suggest that it's stopped being free is altogether a different matter. They do not charge for membership or any other package that isn't already advertised as an in-game purchase. The basic game - and it's still a complete game - is available, free.
If the developers have ever, even once, ever advertised and/or promised, that a special event or it's prizes was included in the free option, then I'd sure like to see it. What is happening here is simple: the lead time isn't satisfactory to those who wish to play for no- or a minimum-charge and they're just not happy that they have to wait until the 'free' options are available during the next scheduled event of it's type. That's all. You don't have to pay but you might have to wait. Big deal. In a game that's literally built on exerting no small amount of patience to achieve your desired goal, I can hardly see how that's such a problem. Do you want them to go out of business?
After all, the game can still be played and quite successfully so without benefit of even one special event item. Happens all of the time.