Catching up with a top WD team has never been easier with all the other events, but yes it requires some coordinated spending. Also the tragedy isn't the fact that free players aren't getting top awards, but the total disrespect for other top 10 teams. They fare even worse with the current system. They spend, but are left without proper any proper awards during WD. The moster units from WD LTQs could just as well require 50 wars won, a top 10 total WD placing, together with 1000 individual wins.
This game does not require a lot of active free players to continue, but it takes a few more paying customers than just SUP.