Currently, it takes me about 250 games to scrape into Champions. Then if I want C2, another 150. a regular season of 12 days gives about 300 games. And I am definitely not going to be paying 500 DEC a token.
(and also by using multiple accounts the bots still can play nearly endlessly).
This is generally the people who have a smackload of cards from the early days, or renters?
I think there are many different strategies.
Some Users own thousands of bot accounts farming lower leagues.
They were earning huge amounts of reward cards and DEC/SPS which allowed them to buy more and more cards.
Renting of course plays also a role.
And Some players simply spend huge amounts of money to even lead many accounts into Champion Leauge.
Not to get me wrong: I don't blame anybody. As always if a system can be exploited it will be exploited, but I think if the bot and multi account problems can't be solved the game is not attractive anymore for new real human players which are necessary for longterm success of the game.
Honestly, I don't l know much about the lower leagues and the economics there. I have a half-decent deck that has cost me an arm and a leg, but very little extra.
People always work on incentive, so if the incentive is there to farm with bots, they will. However, there should always be more incentive to buy/own and play/rent, than rent and earn.