it is true that the economy is the advantage to web2 games.
but a game can live without economy and inspire millions of players.
but the economy without a game is just a bubble and bubbles burst eventually...
in what do we invest? in a game!
what are the customers of a game? players!
what is a game without players? garbage!

just because mcdonald regularly distributes burgers to its investors, it would not survive in the long run without customers.
it can try to keep the investors busy in the ball pool as long as possible and still suck as much money out of them as possible.
but sooner or later mcdonalds will have to close if it doesn't get customers at some point......