What if the thing they brought to the table was being able to get a similar experience for cheaper?
This usually is still called a rip off regardless but more gauging if you would instead think of that as potentially having a positive connotation instead.
Like say if you didn't think X game was worth its price point but you were instead able to find something else that gives the same experience but at a price you instead feels more justified.
Not played either games but an example could be say current Pokemon games vs something like Nexomon. Nexomon at face value just looks like a Gen 3-esque Pokémon game. I can see others preferring that "rip off" over the real deal due to the real deals' price point and any potential disappointments one may have had with their recent directions.
Not exactly specifically on topic but thought it would still be an interesting tangential discussion.