I feel so manipulated and guiltyFollow

I bought a pet from the pet store.

Ah, but that's the worst part. I just bought the Pandaren Monk. Had I done that two years ago, my ten bucks at least would have gone to a good cause. But the charity event is closed, so all it's doing is lining Blizz's pockets with even more of my money, and relieving my irritation and boredom with trying to find a rare harpy youngling.

Then again, given the number of ten dollar bills that have gone to name changes over the years, I'm not sure why I think this is worse. Maybe because vanity pets seem so... vain? Because paying $15 a month for my priest's pixels is any less silly than paying $10 once for the panda's pixels?

Although now that there are pet battles, what does that do to their claim that they'd never sell anything that would make your character more powerful? I'm not some super successful pet battle brawler, I've just been dabbling for fun, but nonetheless pet battles are why I bought the pet. So why isn't buying a good pet, for people who are into that part of the game, just as much an advantage as buying a stat upgrade for people who are into raiding?

There's your extended maintenance food for thought.

I've purchased the two charity pets. I don't feel bad about those. I'm torn on buying the other pet store pets, though. The collector side of me wants them. The rational(?) side of me, says ***** that. So, I haven't brought myself to it...yet. If I do end up buying anymore pets, though, I certainy won't be shelling out $25 for the two pets that come with plushy toys. Eff that.

Wait. What? That came out of the booze budget? I can't buy booze now???

I'll be someone's pet.

I've bought a few, some of the charity ones and others in weak moments to satisfy the collecter/completionist in me. The ones that came with the plushy toys was actually an easy sell, as you get something tangible instead of just pixels. And I have two kids :). $25 for a plushy isn't robbery. Well it is, but it's on par with what one can by a similar size/quality toy from a regular store. Go to your local amusement park, you will spend a lot more in fixed games of "chance" trying to win a toy of similar size.

I'd probably actually buy more if they came with something other than just the pixles they were created with.The charity stuff is a great idea/marketing scheme.

There is no advantage to TCG or Blizz Store pets. Anything those pets can do you're likely to find a couple others in-game that are entirely comparable that didn't cost any real money.

I bought Lil Ragnoros to cook on, and a mount or two. Bliz gave me most of the other pets and mounts when they canceled the Magazine, which I had a subscription for. So, I've got most of them.