Pricing needs an overhaul, some restrictions behind premium should be removed, gathering should be given more reserves (I understand it's meant to deter botters, but the limits are small enough to deter practical participation as well). Imo pricing for the largest pack should be capped around $20.
Imo premium shouldn't exist, and neither should there be a split between AC and Star Gems, tbh, but they're there and won't go away. There's plenty in the game that'd motivate people to pay into it, but the pricing scares away many of those impulses. When I play League, for example. I could spend $100 on RP and buy a stupid amount of skins via mystery skins, heavy discounts, or what have you. In PSO2 you can spend $100 and get... 8 rare drop boosters? Sure, 400% but that's not realistic monetary value to most of us.
I'd rather have those extraneous boosts be locked behind high tier participation in events rather than a high value cash lock. Leave the gamebreaking consumables behind performance, player market, and limited events. As encouragement to play the game rather than incentive to continue. Honestly, most of the things available for purchase in the AC or SG shop are just jokes. One-use pickaxes and fishing poles for absurd amounts relative to the $ paid into it?
I would like to spend money on the game, but as it stands I won't be willing to pay in more than I have, unless the current pricing and monetization structure is given some sincere thought in an overhaul.