Perhaps a 99 BT limit on tokens spent in the shopping store might be warranted. As it stands now, you are out all the tries, plus the purchases you make afterwards.
As a default for striking out 33 tries in a row, you'd then be able to spend an additional 36 BT's to get a +3 atty and either a tree addition or % addition of your choosing. This would cost a bit more than just straight shopping (135 BTs vs 125), but would at least add a "worst case scenario" limit to BT's spent.
In this way, the advantage to shopping still potentially remains; you have the chance of saving BT's by finding the desired AE before 33 tries. Yet the threat of compromising the entire build you spent a year of RL and tens of $ to create and painstakingly mold also remains.
Having an opportunity to make better dots across the board enhances the GLB experience for all users.
If the user base is strongly in favor of something that would produce a more enjoyable product, wouldn't that seem to be for the good of the game? It certainly deserves a chance to be voted on...
