I agree, paying for it will be huge advantage, so free for everyone.
To make this game more dynamic and enjoyable for more players to be more popular you should concerned that.
About PVP just leave it in normal speed,
speed up 2x PVE, encounters (option in gameplay options 1x, 2x).
Trust me many people don't play or stop it after while because of slow encounters and battles and what players already said this question was asked so many times, people want that and this is the fact.
Please concerned that.