Yes dude there are quite a few threads from incredulous folks like you. Two things: People with cash to burn spend it on plenty of things others think are crazy or can't afford. Too many threads to count about how crazy it is to spend on pixels or 0s and 1s with comeback others spend on things other think are crazy. Both sides are right.
Go back to some threads to see how you get Gree's gold discount. Yes quite a few folks spend serious bucks on thousands of gold per month. Look at ITune's list of most profitable games: CC and MW are in Top 100 and even in Top 25 at times.
You're wrong about a 'reasonable' amount of real $ not being able to compete. You need to spend it on most effective return: Gold for certain cash bldgs using the spreadsheets some forum members created and contributed to figure out which are best. Certain events like bullet and map combo events are guaranteed 'wins' for gold you spend and not random wins. Used to hate those events until I realize they are best event...but rarely held since I've been playing.
You can do respectable with not much gold spend. My guess is that your strategy to this game is also the reason you are on the short end of stick.