I've talked myself into a circle on my refusal to buy housing stuff for real cash in #WorldOfWarcraft. The principle isn't that I won't spend real money for virtual items, as I've spent real money for in-game content like faction/race changes, the fiery motorcycle mount, etc. I don't do that often, and I don't do it impulsively.

Over time, I have continually enjoyed the things I've spent on, so I feel validated that I didn't "waste" the money any more than you waste money renting a movie for your enjoyment. In that sense, I've spent far less on these items than someone would on regular nights out.

Maybe it's just that housing in-game hasn't proved itself to be more than a throw-it-at-the-wall-and-see-if-it-sticks feature yet. Housing and neighborhoods have been ghost towns so far, and having the coolest grave in the graveyard doesn't change the fact that everyone's dead there. (I'll keep working on that analogy.)