R_Jackal posted... I mean, in this case I get the reasoning.
F2P games generally have two targets: Those who can't really afford, and those who can afford in excess. The general game plan for them is draw in enough of the whales to support the game so those that don't spend money can continue grinding away/playing, albeit with handicaps--in the hopes one day they'll drop a bit of money on it.
Adding an additional gateway does feel like a bit of punishment to those not wanting to drop money on the game due to their situation(And those saying "You have internet? You have a PC/Console? You can afford a phone." acting like financial situations are fucking steady constantly lmfao is all I got for that.)
Plus, I mean, ActiBlizz is the one company that can universally be seen as the bad guy right now. Like, EA used to be considered the bad guy due to their business practices, as well as Capcom. Seldom do you see a company that is quite as rotten inside and out as ActiBlizz in the gaming industry.
Then there's people like me, who just don't wanna give a company shown to be completely consumed by scum their phone number, but still wants to play the fucking game he paid for.
people are also still missing that there are lots of situations where one would be without a phone, or not using a blizzard approved carrier, and therefore they are gatekept from playing a FREE to play game