A.Net should give an in game pop up window (like when you join a sPvP match) once per account. In the pop up window there can be a questioner that A.Net can draw information from about how the player base feels about time gating and such. At the end give the account a title or a mini or a small amount of gems or something as a thanks/reward.
They can then look at the account cash spent/desires to keep people playing that spend money if they are interested in making the doughnuts. Or they can just use that gathered data as they see fit.