You need to understand whether things are rushed or not, the gap between players will stay. Quick example, both players started playing at the same time: our fellow ftp does everything everyday, plunders, convoys. He manages to get 4k cp during a month. Our friendly ptw does the same thing, but also recharged for monthly card, has jonin medal and buys naruto froggy once during a month. Our ptw gets additional 16k coupons. Ftp got 4k, while ptw got 20k. It's an example, dont argue with me "how can i get that much". The point is, just this little thing allows paying players be 5 months ahead of ftp players. You will never be able to compete with those players, if you both keep playing with same efficiency. Just deal with it.

Now whether new content is rushed or not, it doesnt change the fact, that ftp cant afford anything. While adding new raw power functions like 2nd stage of myoboku allows paying players to get that power faster, ftp can get it too. Both parties need to spend exactly the same ammount of resources, which obviously favours paying players, because they have more coupons. The thing that is happening right now, namely releases of non impactful ninjas (edo jinchuurikis) actually favours ftp, since those 16k coupons that could be spent towards power are "wasted". Although, the more ninjas are released, the more likely we are to receive another meta changer, which leads to first conclusion- you cant compete with p2w.

Now from game's perspective, rushing content doesnt make sense at all. It should be steadily implemented, yes, but neither rushed or delayed. You need to find that sweet balance, where players get new stuff but dont get bored, because there's one minor update every 1.5 months. Adding things faster will result in initial happiness of the playerbase, but will quickly disappear when the game will run out of content (and it will).

The only feature (in my opinion) that should be rushed is implementation of Y skills and adding all basic ninjas(sannins, konoha gennins, basic akatsuki), since that both provides just a few viable ninja substitutions, as well as a reason and a goal to work towards (pokemon-skillbook collection). As long as it doesnt include ones that make top meta ninjas (looking at you susanoo sasuke, danzo & ay) this is the only feature that benefits ftp first and foremost. Updated shop would be a nice addition too, but thats 5.0 feature (if we receive same stuff as Germany), but those will benefit paying players more, because they can get more coins.

Authors of those ftp threads seriously need to understand this- you cant compete with paying players. The same way as casual spenders cant compete with heavy spenders. If you want to be competitive, you need a certain bracket of people- compete with your other ftp fellows or find something else that makes you enjoy the game. Trust me, finding such thing makes the game a lot more pleasant :-)

Limit? Please. https://youtube.com/watch?v=BS5-CqmhNMc

But if you consider mathematics- you are right. If the time goes to infinity, the gap will close.

In reality- it wont. A random ftp (4 ref/swb) would need to farm swb for 50 years to finish refining.