I brought the gane (Phys Imperial Edition pre-order) subbed for a few months, since Tamriel unlimited I have been buying crowns intermittently and recently started a 6-month subscription.
Paid for the game, and I buy crowns for the special things. But I hate any kind of monthly payment unless absolutely necessary like Rent or a Car Bill.
I bought crowns once and I subscribe. Won't be buying crowns again though unless there's something I really want. I calculate how many crowns I need for something and try to buy exactly that many. If it's a little over I don't complain
Feel free to add me. I'm part of the Gummy Guars PC/Mac NA server. Master crafter and working on getting 9 traits on everything
I sub (perks are better now, and I loves me crafting bag!) and buy crowns as and when they're on sale. I'm retired, so I have to make my money go a little further.
RIP Atherton, my beautiful little gentle friend, my Shining Light. I will miss you forever. Without you I am a hollow shell.
I preordered the Imperial Version, I sub since release uninterruptedly and I buy merchandising (which wasn't in the options so I had to go with "bought the game and sub").
I didn't buy extra Crowns yet because I didn't need to, since releases in the Crown Store are not very fast, so I always have around 8k of Crowns just sitting there and nothing I want to buy in the store.
Just so that everyone knows, my Altmer still can't have black hair. About a dozen of Altmer NPCs in the game have black hair. Just saying.
Meet my characters:
Command: Do the thing.
Zadarri, Khajiit Fist of Thalmor: The thing was done, as commanded. Durza gra-Maghul, Orc blacksmith: The thing was done perfectly, in the most efficient way. Tegwen, Bosmer troublemaker: You can't prove I didn't do the thing. Sings-Many-Songs, Argonian fisher: Sure, I'll do the thing... Eventually. Maybe. Aerindel, Altmer stormcaller: After extensive research, I've come to the conclusion that doing the thing would be a waste of resources. Liliel, Dunmer pyromancer: Aerindel said I shouldn't do the thing. Something about "resources". Gyda Snowcaller, Nord cryomancer: I will find a way to do it that won't waste resources and make Aerindel proud of me. Beatrice Leoriane, Breton vampire: I persuaded someone else into doing the thing. You are welcome, dear. Sahima, Redguard performer: Doing the thing sounds awfully unpleasant and really not my problem. Ellaria Valerius, Imperial priestess: I'll pray to the Eight for the thing to be done, if it is Their will.
I have bought the game (twice - PS4 and PC), I have bought Crowns and, more recently, I have chosen to subscribe (costume dyeing being the main reason). I have also spent a bit of money on merchandise. In addition, I generally speak positively about the game to other people. A few of them are now ESO players.
You can buy the game, subscribe, and buy crowns, and because of numerous authorized retail options, can do all three without spending much or at all out of pocket.
The only money game that matters this year is what Providence Equity Partners (PEP) does with their stake in ZeniMax. If they hold, good. If they sell or go public, everybody in this company and its subsidiaries will feel that in some way. Because that would be an estimated $625 million share up for grabs to new ownership with new ideas.
But people on the Internet like to wave their $15 chubs around. Which is 24 ten-millionths of a percent of the PEP share to put that in perspective. This entire community in its lifetime still couldn't collectively raise enough to buy out that PEP share and then establish fair governance of it. So don't pretend that you, one person with ESO+, is some sort of hot shot corporate philanthropist. I've done the math.
It doesn't matter who spends more. So chill out and have fun. You're not supporting anything except your own enjoyment. Which is fine. If you like ESO+, utilize that service. If you like rainbow farting cats, great. If you want to be a corporate warrior, then I suggest pumping money into Sears Holdings because at this point they're barely worth the property the stores are built on. That's what dire straits looks like.
Bought the Imperial Edition digitally and physically
Subbed since launch
Regularly buy crowns usually 2 to 3 times a month
I have no plans to stop supporting the game either