Not sure how you can even consider being optimistic when the concept of mobage itself goes against the "good old days" you're thinking of.

*Real* games wouldn't limit their gamers/customers with stamina and gacha systems. FKG succeeds because it puts work in its waifus and shows it values its players, even if the gacha rates are abysmal otherwise. Kancolle succeeds for similar waifu reasons. But the money-making motive is still there, just not blatantly at the forefront.