For what it is worth, a few words were dropped in the shell-like ear of the Korean Times journalist. We made some observations and suggested he might look into a couple things. One, if he merely raises questions about it, is going to make things very uncomfortable for NCSoft. The other, while mere speculation, if by some possibility is true....would be a bombshell.
And while your minds are spinning, I will offer the following observation.
When Paragon Points or GW Gems or other in-game currency that requires hard cash are purchased in the marketplaces, the money goes straight to NCSoft via their third-party store. That money remains with NCSoft until the points are cashed in at the game. Only then does the game studio get credit for that influx of money and have it go on their side of the ledger.
So if a large number of F2P accounts would purchase points or gems, NOT cash them in, and cancel the accounts, NCSoft would get a large influx of money...that would never be credited as income to the game studio.
And one might speculate why someone would do something like that. Why on earth would someone want to transfer money to another entity and get nothing from it? (Hint: Two words. First word: rhymes with honey. Second word: rhymes with maundering)