My point of view is somewhere in between. There are must have items you need to stay competitive. "You can buy this in game too" is not a valid argument, because people who use their real money don't have to, hence they may get billions of kinah advantage. Candies give advantage, every percent of speed and attack speed adds advantage. Current subscription modell is the following:
AP Boost Pack (30 days) - 150 coin - 37.5000.000 kinah - 3$
Administrator's Boon IV (30 days) - 120 coin - 30.000.000 kinah - 2,4$
[Title Card] Aion's Chosen (30 days) - 200 coin - 50.000.000 kinah - 4$
Boost Drop Pack (30 days) - 350 coin - 87.500.000 kinah - 7$
Administrator's boon not only disables soul sickness, but provides free teleport as well, which might you think not a big money, but actually huge on a long term. Mansion cannot compete with that deal. Above prices doesn't contain occasional buys like 100% socket stones.
Server is moderately (about 4/10) pay to win, within acceptable limits. I put moderate because patch will never change, eventually everyone will catch up.