yes Kale is correct, there are times, NCSOFT provides good upgrades for Free, free meaning you need Ncoin and sometimes sacrifice (waking up early for me) during the last "click" event where i got decent items to upgrade my skills and Artifacts. so yes there are rare times that NCSOFT gives something.
you know, everything in REAL LIFE has something in exchange. food = money, service = money, enjoyment = money, pleasure = money. that is how life goes and it will not change unless there is an apocalyptic phenomenon that happens and food, services, entertainment, pleasure are exchanged for shells maybe? or barter or bottle caps? haha! but then, there will always be an exchange. nothing is free.